Best Cell Phone Plan? (and a little rant)

@rowantree (1186)
United States
November 2, 2008 12:24pm CST
I have used Verizon Wireless for 12+ years now and it just keeps getting more and more expensive. We have 3 lines. Verizon charges not just a monthly fee for mobile web but also a mega byte usage fee. You're on the web for a certain amount of time, using so many mega bytes, well, Verizon charges you for it. Meaning you may only pay $5 a month to access the web, but you might end up paying an extra $20 just for actually using it. Want a game for your phone? Well most run about $6, but they're going to charge you $1-2 to browse their application shop to find the game. I tried side stepping this issue by purchasing a game at their website, only to find it wouldn't send the game to my phone. I still got charged for the game and it took some time to get the charges off. It's very frustrating. Add to the mix that we like to text, especially the 3rd line. I have an unlimited texting plan on that line which runs us an extra $10 a month. On the other 2 lines we don't have a text plan so we have to pay per text. Here's what I want. I want unlimited text/video/picture messaging for all 3 of my lines. I want to use the mobile web without having to pay extra usage fees. I want no more than 700 minutes a month with unlimited minutes on nights and weekends and unlimited minutes to anyone who is in the same network. And I want this for $120 a month. Does anyone know of a cell phone carrier who has such a plan for that amount? Am I being too cheap? I see lots of people who have Blackberries and I have no idea how they afford it. Besides your regular cell phone plan, you have to add on a media plan. And that's not per account, it's PER LINE. With the economy as bad as it is, how come the cell phone market hasn't taken a hit? I think it's outrageous what fees they've been charging. The coverage has grown, cell phone usage has blown into massive proportions and you would think that the costs would go down but they don't. It's just like cable! We're always told the price will go down once it becomes more popular and more people are using the service, but THAT NEVER HAPPENS, now does it?! Is it cheaper to just use a pay as you go service for all 3 lines? What about doing individual media plans? Can anyone help me figure this mess out?
1 response
@littleowl (7157)
2 Nov 08
Hi rowan', I have never heard of Verizon maybe they don't do that in the UK, but I am on Vodaphone my bundle is 500mins and 500texts per month plus £5 ($10-00) for the internet yet they are doing an offer at the moment for 700mins and unlimited texts per month am not sure about the internet though, I don't use it on my cellphone as like you said you do have to pay the extra for it and on my contract when you do it is either £1 ($2-00) per day or $10-00 per month, the only reason that cellphones haven't cut their cost I should imagine is because everyone uses them and the companies profit from them...hugs littleowl
@rowantree (1186)
• United States
3 Nov 08
Wow your phone plan sounds great. We used Vodaphone when we were over there in London last year and the quality of the calls is EXCELLENT! We loved being over there in the UK and want to go back so badly. If McCain wins the Presidency over here, maybe we'll just jump ship and sign up with Vodaphone!
@littleowl (7157)
3 Nov 08
Hi rowan it would be lovely to see you over here hugs littleowl