I realize that I could simply google a guide to cell phones but I have come to trust the opinion of the MacNN community over the years so I wonder if anyone would be willing to give some suggestions or personal experience stories, etc. My family is going to purchase a plan for the first time (yes, we're very late cell-phone adopters despite, and I'm Asian too) and right now, my mom is looking at either the $59.99/month Family Plan from either Cingular or Verizon.
Some questions:
1. I've noticed that cell phone plans, along with phones, can be purchased much more inexpensively from third party sites rather than from the company's website itself. Does anyone have any recommendations for good deals for something of the sort?
2. If the plan comes with two lines, does that mean that two rebates would also work for purchasing two phones? I ask because I was looking at Amazon and they have a Motorola V3 Razr for $50 after rebate but at the same time, my parents (who will be sharing one while I take the other one when I attend college this fall) really don't want a phone with great features so to save some cash, my parents would get something more mundane (like a phone that might actually earn them cash back after rebate).
3. Experiences with Cingular or Verizon (or both)?
Thanks.