Could be a good use for one of those vintage, "non-dial" telephones that were originally used for manual service, "way-back-when." Hey, is anyone good w/ pulsing out "911" using the switchhook?
But in reality, yeah, call waiting, CID & voicemail (which are included w/ a cheap PAYG cellphone plan, even) add at least $15 more to that $5 plus $10-12 more for the taxes & fees.
to verizon i can only say: BFD. this is precisely the haughty attitude that caused us to boot the verizon landline out the door about 7 years ago. the only---and i do mean only---regret is that we had not done it sooner.
·