[jyl]

Coverage is the most important thing. Lousy signal, frequent drops, etc are worse than a Nokia phone! Ask other cellphone users in your area (and where-ever yuou travel to regularly) which service is best. Consumer Reports also tested cellphone services recently. I think Verizon has the best coverage in most, not necessarily all, areas. I think T-Mobile and Sprint have the worst in most areas. But YMMV depending on where you are.

The FCC has mandated "number portability" for later this year, meaning you'll be able to switch carriers and keep your existing mobile number. A great thing for the consumer. Carriers will probably be offering great deals to get users to switch and trying everything to get users locked in by contract. So I would try not to sign a 1 or 2 year contract until you are sure which service you want, and then hold out for the deals.

I've been using another neat cellphone-related service, Verizon's wireless Internet service that works off their national network. PCMCIA card in your laptop, a little antenna sticking up, and I get 100k/sec speeds in most areas. About 3X dial-up. It's fast enough to get some work done. Pricey at $80/month flat rate but I get work to pay for some of it. Verizon is testing an even faster service (300-400k/sec) in San Diego and Wash DC.

Oh, and I like Motorola phones best. V60! I have no use for phones that take photos, record video, play games, text chat, and have keys in weird shapes, sizes and locations other than the traditional phone dial.