If you have a grandfathered Verizon unlimited data plan, you might be better off with that for awhile. Or, you might find one of the smaller carriers offering more aggresive pricing with a Mifi device. Your speed at the PC will be the same as on your phone, the link between the two is WiFi, much faster than the 3g speed. You won't likely have enough allowance to use it for movies or Netflix. Mike, note that a good 3g connection can be faster than entry level dsl, for instance. Also, Android phones have built in tethering, no app needed

Thanks. Did that. Tried a few things on my own and everything they've suggested. Spent over an hour on the phone with Apple tech support today. You're right - there are many, many people having the same problem! Still no solutions for me...

There are two generations answering this question. I am retired and would rather use my tower PC and old flip phone. Since I'm home most of the time it is easy to send a quick email to any of the kids to read on their smart phones. Can just answer or hang up with the flip. My upgrade is due and need a new phone. The darn flip phones are the same price and now with additional options which are of no use to me. The larger phone screens are nice, but still need my darn glasses to read anything of importance and it is too easy to go somewhere into cyberspace not wanted. Admission though, I would definitely use the app to compare pricing/stores. Can't tell you how many times someone has to show me a pic they have on their phone....I either nod or say something nice unless my glasses are nearby. The kids have accommodated me by sending pics through email. And I'll hang on to my Nikon D70 with all the functions in my head. The gathering of old people not wanting smart phones will fade away and this is not too far away. "New" old people will be the generation already skilled. But I have a vision of needing the old magnifying screens being put over them, those used in front of the first TVs in the 40s. Even an Ipad drives me nuts due to size in getting around for all I want to do. Am an ex IT person, 40 years of computer evolution experience. Still love new software and learning more. I like my fast access, multiple software programs and a "fat" built computer with a 42" screen for photography. We can be set in our ways, but there are physical limitations which also direct us to what works for our needs. Regarding the 700 a month. Enough people, aps, games, online use can easily jump to this. Family plan or not.. My son downloads books, usually once a month while he is sleeping. The data used is about 600 for this one shot. Phones used for business can easily run the monthly charge posted. This reminds me of one of my favorite commercials from Office Depot. Grandma is taking pictures of her kids with a hand stapler she picked up instead of the camera they gave her. My humor may be off the map.

I dropped mine in the toilet as well. Had it in the jacket pocket, and it flipped out when adjusting clothing. What a shock! They say not to try to start it (I did). Put it in a container surrounded by rice for a period of time. Then DS took some part out (not the battery). I set the phone on the counter and turned on my hair dryer about 6' from the phone and let it run about 20 minutes. Then I put it on the TV cable box which is warm for 1-2 days. The phone worked after all that. Then I took the phone to Apple so they could look inside. Apple guy said he saw corrosion in it but I should continue to use it as long as it works. It never did stop working and would probably still be working but I replaced it with a newer model. The above practices to dry a phone are not recommended by the manufacturers (except maybe rice).