Am I doing something wrong here? Verizon... (Verizon Wireless, iPhone, contract)

[JesseQ]

So my monthly phone bill is $120...for one phone...ONE phone.

I've an iPhone 4S, 1 gig data, on a share everything plan.


I seriously want to throw my phone out the window and start using aluminum cans with really long string between them. Phones are ridiculously expensive!


I had run into someone a while back who said he only pays around $20 a month for this "phone". It was really fancy and new and awesome looking phone, but I guess the deal was that it only did texts and only when it was near a wi-fi source? I don't recall if it had the ability to use maps or had navigation or anything like that.



I need help...what is the absolute cheapest way to at least get text, and navigation on a phone?

[dontaskwhy]

I think you want a prepaid plan, but you are not going to pay only $20/month.

How long do you have left with your current contract ? That cost makes no sense for what you listed. Can you break down the charges in more detail?

[Hemlock140]

No, that's about right for a minimum data plan for one phone at Verizon. The savings come with the additional phones. I pay about $180 for 2 i-phones with 2GB each and an android with unlimited data.

[dontaskwhy]

I have a 2-line Verizon share everything plan w/ 2 smart phones w/ 4 GB data. $120/month seems too high for just one line.

[Hemlock140]

The share everything for one smartphone is $40 line access, plus $60 for 2GB
data. Add to that the various federal, state and local taxes and you are at $120. For the i-phone you might also want the $10/month warranty.

Plans - Share Everything - Verizon Wireless

[CSD610]

I pay $250.00 a month for 2 iPhone 4s, 3 iPads and 1 Mi-Fi hot spot.

Yes you're doing it wrong. You should be paying $20 or so less.

You could switch to prepaid for $70 and 2 GB of data on Verizon. Or $60 if you can go down to 500 MB.

I would stay away from the Sprint-based MVNOs just because the coverage can be rather spotty on Sprint's network and you likely won't be able to roam onto Verizon.

[Brill]

Originally Posted by JasonF

You could switch to prepaid for $70 and 2 GB of data on Verizon. Or $60 if you can go down to 500 MB.

Verizon is actually increasing the data on the prepaid plans to 4gb and 2gb respectively.

Verizon Increases Data Included With Prepaid Monthly Plans | Prepaid Phone News

[Peregrine]

Agree with Jason, it should be around $90.
Agree with the OP that cellphones are far too expensive from the big 3 Carriers.

[sezzam]

Originally Posted by JasonF

...
You could switch to prepaid for $70 and 2 GB of data on Verizon. Or $60 if you can go down to 500 MB.
...

This sounds much better.