[citation][nom]tiga2001[/nom]Verizon's got great infrastructure, but they totally exploit their customers with stuff like this[/citation]
A statement like that implies that Verizon is taking unfair and/or unethical advantage of their customers. Yet the fact that they are customers and not indentured servants pretty much precludes that. A customer enters into a voluntary relationship with a business because, first and foremost, they want what that company is offering. So, right away, the relationship starts with an exchange for mutual benefit. In the case of cell service, there is usually a contract involved. The contract means that the purchaser is obligated for, usually, 2 years of service. A $200 or $350 fee to break the contract is actually pretty cheap considering that you are legally obligated for paying the entire two years whether you use it or not. Finally, contracts work both ways. You are obligated to pay, but only the amount in the contract. If the company's costs were to sudden skyrocket, they can't make you pay more even if your contract with them is less than what it costs them to provide the service.
So there is no exploitation at all. As the customer, you can vote with your feet (and your wallet). A company that tries to exploit their customers (see the recent Tom's articles on MacPadd) will quickly find themselves without customers.