Quote MS: I agree that network equipment costs money but if the air (substitute "spectrum") cost as much money, where would these smaller operators get all that financing backing?

They don't...the fundamental difference between the major carriers and the smaller ones is the coverage. If you want more coverage pay more. If you don't need it go with a smaller company. Should a "small" company like Kia be able to use Honda engine technology for free (or significantly reduced price) to try and even the playing field? C'mon, honda can sell their motors for what ever price they wan't, and the same should go for the wireless companies as well. Or should we just follow the Communist approach and have just one wireless company that can use everything, at a government controlled rate?

If you wan't coverage go with a big company...if you wan't to pay less go with a local...you can't have both.

So let the big companies fix the problems...and then the little ones can just leech? C'mon this is rediculous...

I pay Verizon more money because they spend $4bil a year to make "their" network better...and it is...why should someone from Alltel pay half what I do for the same service?

I just played with one of these at a local verizon kiosk, and it is pretty slick. Feels nice, micro sd card slot up to 2gb, you can actually change the verizon skin (5 or 6 pre loaded). Only complaint is no speaker phone. They are talking $149 after rebate