Cost Comparison of the Major Cell Phone Plans [Infographic]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/gW7T6jIZe6A/cost-comparison-of-the-major-cell-phone-plans

Having previously crunched the numbers on smartphone features and cost of ownership, service comparison site BillShrink now offers an informative infographic showing the costs of every carrier's 500, 1000, and unlimited minute plans, with and without texting and data.

BillShrink's chart shows the cost per month of having a standard cell or smartphone on Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, or T-Mobile, in the average plan divisions, with extras like a messaging plan and basic or smartphone data. It's really helpful, but there's a caveat—no contract purchase is ever a straightforward process. One-time deals, promotions, and slight variations offered on each plan make this chart more of a starting point for your shopping, not a final word.

Here's the full-size chart. Click on the link at bottom for a full-size download version and BillShrink's further notes on the real costs of cellular contracts.

Cell Phone Plans: The Ultimate Comparison [BillShrink]