<p>Anyone have any ideas on the least expensive route to go?</p>
<p>Depends how much it gets used. Here in the UK, "Pay As You Go" is far far far cheaper than in the US (there's no "service fees", talk time never expires etc.), and offered by all networks. If you're using your phone for long periods of time, it's better to go contract. It's worth checking out all of the network operators to see which deal suits you - they are: Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Vodafone, and several smaller providers (Virgin, Fresh, Tesco-Mobile etc).</p>
<p>So, the least expensive route is Pay As You Go. For example - I don't use my phone that much, and I probably spend around £10 ($6ish) per month on top-up credit with Virgin Mobile. This works out cheaper than contract. But as I said, if you use your phone quite a lot, contract will probably be cheaper.</p>
<p>The one thing you don't need to worry about it coverage - all the networks generally cover the same areas (except for the moors and the like), and reception in all major towns/cities is fine.</p>
<p>Oh, last thing - minor point, but probably worth knowing. Nobody calls them "cellphones" in the UK. "Mobile phone" all the way :)</p>