[fingpilot]

Have been reasonably happy with Verizon. No choice when at home, they are the only carrier out here in the sticks. Family and friends @$9/month additional, we (7 phones) all share minutes (700), no texts, no pics. We routinely use 1500-1900 in system (unlimited), and 400-600 out of system, plus an additional 300-ish on weekends/nightime. You have to plan for the usage, and be aware of the gotchas.

A relative (the one in the hospital with his wife in SICU) also same plan with just the two of them had 900/month. First month in hospital he ran up 2000+ minutes, and got a whopper bill. He called them and they backdated a minutes increase for that last month, but he is stuck on 2000/month rate for 6 months. He has actually been using 1500-ish since June accident. I figure they gotcha coming or going, take your pick.

We keep a pre-paid T-mobile up here (different towers) in case of emergency (it does work at house). It also seems to work where VZ won't. No landlines, so if cells ever go south, we are incommunicado.