Alltel Wireless customers can now use their phone’s idle time to automatically download new content.

The carrier is making Mobile Posse’s content service available as a free download to all customers, even those without data plans. Customers would still be charged for airtime.

Content will download when a handset is not being used and will include news and discount offers. Currently the service bases the information on a customer’s home location, but eventually it will use more precise location data to be more useful when a customer is away from home, Mobile Posse vice president Anurag Mehta said.

Content is also based on the customer’s age, gender, time and day, as provided by Alltel. The menu options will disappear when customers press any other phone button.

Mehta said his company is also working with unspecified other major carriers. He declined to comment on the prospects of working with Verizon Wireless specifically, as Verizon did not yet complete its acquisition of Alltel.