Local Input needed, possible switch from Verizon Wireless to other carrier? (school, taxes)

[abner463]

I am willing to pay $5 for 250 texts per month and have an average # of wireless minutes, but I don't want to pay another $10 or more for email, internet, etc. I check my email at home, and pay Time Warner Cable for that(read-I'm cheap!). I was looking for a new phone on Verizon Wireless, as I'm almost at the 3 year mark w/ my phone. I was kind of holding out for the Verizon iPhone, but in reality I don't want to pay $30 + taxes in addition to my current wireless bill. I didn't see any phones that seem really great w/ a decent camera (my current LG Dare phone has a 3.2 mp camera), so I gave up.

That being said, I was kinda looking at Virgin Mobile and Cricket (was Pocket) because of a few suggestions I've read on this forum but they were older posts. Does anybody have any opinion on these carriers or know of another? Right now DH and I have a Talk Family plan w/ 700 mins. (never get close to using that) and the addl. $5 text pkg for me. I want him to have text capability. DH is about the last person in town w/ an old-school flip phone, so it would require some training! If I could get our wireless bill w/ a decent carrier under $80/mo that would be better than Verizon. Verizon has great customer service, and I've been w/ them for many years, but in reality, I hardly ever talk to them. I don't know if that is because their coverage is good or I just don't want to deal w/ them. Anyhow would appreciate your input! Thanks a bunch!

[L210]

If you want unlimited everything with Virgin Mobile, it's going to cost $60 a month. I pay around $42 a month (including taxes and fees) for unlimited text, picture and video messaging, data (3G), and minutes with Cricket. Virgin Mobile's $40 plan has a limit of 1200 minutes. If you have a Blackberry, Cricket is $10 cheaper for unlimited everything. I'm not sure if Virgin Mobile has a family plan or allows you to add lines at a discount, but Cricket does. I think it's an extra $15 a month to add a line. I haven't used Virgin Mobile in a few years, so I couldn't compare its coverage to Cricket's. I think Virgin Mobile runs on Sprint's network. I did see a small increase in coverage when Cricket bought out Pocket; they pretty much merged the two networks.

[abner463]

Meisha210, thanks for the helpful info! Taxes are a tricky part because they are always a lot more than you expect. I'm going to visit a Cricket/Pocket store this week.

[Jbinsa36]

I have had Sprint for years. The pricing is much better than most and I like the unlimited features.

[perticusrex]

I like the all data plan with Sprint...I have an Android phone (access to email, browser, android market, you tube, facebook...etc etc) and pay about $80 a month after taxes. ($69.99 plan) But I know they offer lesser plans, like all text plans or all voice plans. I like the network much better than Pocket/Cricket and thats why I made the switch last year.