Just posted a few replies to another similar thread. Try and check there for some thoughts.

Basically though, I have Verizon and signed up for America's Choice (National Calling) and Family Share where I have 1 additional line (Phone). I think I have 400 anytime minutes, unlimited nights and weekends IN Network so I can call any other Verizon customer without using minutes.... I got the second line for my Girlfriend so she could have something for emergencies etc., and so we could talk anytime we like without incurring any toll calls on her land line phone. She had been getting hassles from her roomate over the phone bills since I live about 20 miles away and I am out of her calling area for local calls. It isn't long distance but is a higher charge. Also, she uses her phone to call her mom in Seattle. We are in Chicago. She makes her calls after 9pm or on Weekends and her mom calls her at similar times. They can talk without worrying about the costs.

I got my phone last year, about this time, right before going to Vegas. Got it so we could keep in touch with other friends who were traveling on different flights or at different times. Also to coordiate trips to the strip, pool buffet.... We could call from anywere we were at and get ahold of our friends by calling their normal numbers. And, vice versa. I have had Cellular One, (Cingular) and Primco (US Cellular). US Cellular was the next choice I had but their coverage and costs were not great. When Primco, and shortly after becoming US Cellular, their customer service was horrible. I called about a problem with some billing, couldn't get through and never got a call back to an internet query.

Cellular One or Cingular was better on their customer service, OK on rates but they charged extra for a voicemail box. I had to then program a phone number into my phone for that service. If the phone would ring and not be answered, or if the line was busy, the handset would forward the call to the voicemail box number. Problem was, if the phone was off, out of range, unreachable or the battery dead, there was no way for someone to leave a voicemail since the handset (phone) wasn't on to transfer the call.

With Verizon, I have full voicemail where for any reason, if the call isn't answered, the caller is directed to a voicemail. Even if the phone is off, dead, out of range, sunk in the bottom of Lake Michigan... Also, with Verizon, and my LG 6000 or my girlfriends LG 6100 phones, we have TXT messageing and Photo Messaging as well. For added fees, of course. We have been using the TXT messaging a lot. Works great. I can also use email and other services but haven't had a need to figure that out yet.

One thing that I do like is being able to go onto www.verizonwireless.com and type txt messages in right from the website, using my computer. I can send TXT messages to any Verizon customer from there. Easier than sending from my phone using the keypad. I have, and occasionally do, send simple emails or photo emails from my phone to friends email accounts. Really handy.