Help Me understand the cell phone thing!

[puppypal]

OK I own a small business and my father is basically retired and helps.
We got a Cingular cell phone plan years back which my son says is bare bones in the plan
Basic
500 daytime minutes and 5000 night weekend
2 phones share the time
No test messaging except 10 cent in or out.
It still runs me like 70.00 before all the extra charges for Lord Knows what is put on it.
I have no clue as to what plans are what and do not want to get jipped! I am looking for a plan with shared minutes and 3 lines
Any suggestions

[FrugalBachelor]

I cut the land line phone and just have my virgin mobile pay as you go.

they have many options and the one I do is 34.99 month and I get 300 anytime and 1000 nite and weekend and it starts at 7pm for the nite and weekends.

plenty for me!! I like it alot. Virgin piggybacks off the sprint network so coverage is good. texts are 5 cents

[shengmei]

T mobile has decent family plans. My cell phone only costs $10 a month because it is one of many on a family plan.

[lrjohnson]

My Guy and I may be going from land line to cell. I've only used a cell like 4 or 5 times; I embrace most technology but am somewhat of a luddite when it comes to cell phones. However, I am on the road often enough to wish I actually had one.

We pay $17 a month total for a phone. That's $8.50 each. Plus maybe $10 a year on a long distance phone card. So it may be hard to equal that.

We are both not into contracts; we know it may be a little cheaper, but I have heard to many stories about being locked in to a yucky plan to want one. (Or else someone unexpectedly moved, or had other lifestyle changes.)

I'll be looking at this thread to see if anyone has a pay as you go barebones but they are pretty happy with. I'm also interested to see what the experieince has been if you gave up lanline altogether.

[PrincessPerky]

when I get a plan I look for free long distance, and free 'roaming' I use the thing all up and down the east coast the companies usually have pretty colored maps to show you what is in area.

before you get one see who you call the most..if it is each other get free that.

If it is mom and pop get a plan that makes her free, unless it is under 100 minutes to her...

IMO the 'newfangled' phones make it hard on boring people like us..I am not payong 10 cents to text someone, or to send a picture..in fact I am not even going to take a lousy picture! Till my phone looks as good as my camera it ain't happening! (no offense to those that do)

[more freedom]

You might want to check out vonage.com

It can save you some phone bills