[mad_as_he$$]

They almost all suck. Sorry you asked?

[rabscuttle385]

AT&T sucks. Verizon is okay but will nickel and dime you to death if you're not careful. Supposedly Sprint is like Verizon but cheaper.

[republicangel]

Verizon

[MetaThought]

I believe the iphone is tied to AT&T, and comes with it’s own plan. So you don’t have much choice, if you get an iphone.

[Shimmer1]

I don’t know about the data plans but T Mobile works for me.

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

If you upgrade, you have to pick a cap on the data plan now too AND the new early termination fee's kick in.

My recommendation is only doing 1 year contracts. Pay the extra $50-$100 for the equipment but you save 12 months of rate plans and can get upgades every year. As for unlimited everything? Look at Verizon and Sprint plans. both still have unlimited data plans and work in most major areas.

[MetaThought]

If you’re not tied to an Iphone, you could get A blackberry or some such to access email.

[mozarky2]

All I can say is, I recently traveled from Pittsburgh to NW Arkansas with my granddaughter. She had an Iphone on AT&T, and I had a Blackberry on Verizon. The only time she had 3G coverage was when we came through big cities. I had 3G all the way.

[SledgeCS]

I have gone to Virgin Mobile because they don’t require a contract and $25 for 300 minutes, which I don’t use that much, and unlimited data and text.

[hennie pennie]

*bookmark*

[achilles2000]

Here is where you should start: http://www.myrateplan.com/wireless/

For unlimited everything, T-Mobile is least expensive, but they don’t have 4G yet. In fact, there is very little 4G coverage right now.

The best 4G phone is probably the HTC EVO, which is Sprint only as far as I know.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

You cannot possibly beat Straight Talk.

$45 a month for unlimited phone, text message/email, and web access.

And, no contract.

[Liberty Valance]

Just make sure it has a secure 911 plan.

[garyhope]

I've been on AT&T, then Verizon, then back to AT&T.

Consumer Reports said that Verizon was the best in many American locales, but I didn't find that to be true for me in Texas and NY at all. In fact Verizon was just plain lousy for me in those locales.

I switched back to AT&T from Verizon and I could make and receive many more calls in difficult area where Verizon wouldn't work at all.

My AT&T Uverse Internet service, 18,000 kbps download and 1.5 kbps upload has been very good and fast almost without any interruptions at all.

As far as rates or customer service, I think they're all pretty iffy if not lousy. Their customer service personnel turn over rate is pretty high and not well informed.

Your mileage may vary.

[G Larry]

It’s not the “packages”, it is the spotty service.
I live in a Metro, upscale Suburb and major development, yet there is no cell coverage here, no matter the vendor.

[Grunthor]

I like Verizons’ packages.

[Minn]

From what I hear, an everything plan for an iPnone is something like $120 - $130. Sprint has a Almost everything (450 minutes to land line phones, calls to/from cell phones unlimited) for $69.

[GaltTrader]

Just say no to cell phone packages!

Skype: $30 per year and $3 per month for land line number, call forwarding and voice mail, unlimited calls.

Prepaid cell phone plan for emergencies. Less than $100 per year.