Why is cell phone service so expensive?

[CCS]

Verizon is the only carrier that has coverage in remote places. I shopped other carriers, and they say on their site that they do not recommend their own service for the areas I want covered. And they charge up the nose. I pay $152 per month, though it includes more than one line. Still, why so expensive?

I wish I could just go with a cheap one like Cricket, but I have family in the country.

 

[Cassin]

The service itself is cheap...

It's the taxes and text messaging service that's the killer.

 

[somone uk]

because the initial investment into phone masts is expensive
though it's also because they are greedy twats
the amount you pay for different services is also horribly inconsistent to how much it costs them eg. with a 21st century well designed network an international call (mobile or otherwise) doesn't cost any more than a national one....but they still charge more

 

[virtuality]

The investment into the masts is not as expensive as you might think.

I was talking to someone who is very high up in a telecomms company, and he said the profit margins are very good.

I don't know much about the US, but in Europe the mobile phone services aren't too expensive, they are definitely affordable. Most people don't even bother having land lines anymore. Eg, I don't have one at home.