We have Verizon. I researched plans, asked around, but the real deciding factor came after I'd signed up-I was the only one in my group of friends to get a signal and make calls from the summit of Pike's Peak
A basic but very good plan with Verizon will set you back $40 a month plus the government's share.
With three phones and unlimited text messaging on one (in network-500 texts allowed out of network), unlimited evening and weekend calling plus unlimited in network anytime(700 minutes out of network) it's a monthly sum of $120. Screw that "choose your circle" stuff....