The HTC Merge has been the star of innumerable leaks and rumors (and a hands-on video with Aaron) since it was known as the Lexikon way back in August of last year, but it finally looks like the device is about to hit the market. Alltel has thrown the Merge up on its website, proclaiming that the Android 2.2-powered handset will be available for pre-order on March 28th for $124.99 with a two-year contract. There's no mention of an actual launch date on Alltel's site, but we should be hearing more shortly.

Thanks to several leaks showing the Merge with a Verizon tattoo, as well as an HTC announcement claiming that it'd land on "multiple North American carriers," most of us have been waiting patiently for the Merge to make it way to Big Red's shelves. With the recent launch of the ThunderBolt, the Merge may not be quite as anticipated as it once was, but I'm sure that there are still some folks out there that'd like to get their hands on the physical QWERTY-toting smartphone. We'll keep our eyes peeled.

Via Alltel