Anybody who has a "smartphone" of any kind really needs to buy a plan that has high or unlimited data use. I figured this out after a couple of impressive bills from my kids. I can get on the web with my own old phone, but it's a chore, and hard to do accidentally.

Newer phones integrate the internet with almost everything, and I wouldn't be surprised if some people left Facebook or something running all night.

There are still phones that don't do much except make phone calls, but you have to shop for them.

I use Verizon, which also works with I-phones now, and there are plenty of other phones that work almost like the Apple one if you like that sort of thing.

As for companies, I doubt AT&T is your only choice in this day and age. I'd have a hard time shifting because I've been signing contract extensions to get cheaper phones, but that was my choice.