[soccer_maniac]

I used to have a home land line and paid on average $50/month.

Now I have cellphone and pay $100/month.

As far as I can tell, telcos are better off now.

[operation clinton cleanup]

I traded in my land line for a pay as you go cell phone last September. For some reason, the phone company still sends me a monthly invoice with a zero balance. Guess they want to remind me they still are there for me!

[Almondjoy]

You're paying more to take your phone with you at all times not matter how far away from home you are.

You don't think that's worth the 100% jump? I do.

Besides I got a home phone with unlimited long distance and two cell phones(family plan) and pay about the same as you do.

I call that progress.

[ASOC]

Can't make a comparison, I had a land line in Las Vegas years ago and piad 9.00/Month. And the $100/month is how many minutes, any free minutes and so on.

The long DX cariers subsidized the local providers to different degrees. Telephone rates in Chicago are still terrible and always have been, for example.

A land line in Anchorage was always about 25/30/month, with any features at all, closer to 45 plus your LD costs.

Now I have a cell for 55/month, 450 day min which can be LD and free evening and weekend min - in essence, free LD on weekends when I make most of my calls. I save about 25/month and have a cell phone to boot.

YMMV