In the last year or so, we've seen some pretty big changes from the companies that seemed to hate everything about change. Our mobile carriers, the entities known as Big Red, Big Blue (or the Death Star), and the Now Network, have all been forced to jump on the "boat for change" due to another carrier, the Magenta Network. The smallest of the bunch has been able to cause some of the biggest changes, and while most of those came in 2013, they continue to show they're ready to make waves well into 2014.

I think these changes would have happened sooner or later, whether one carrier started applying pressure or not, but I am happy that they're happening sooner, rather than later. (Though, as long as I've been involved with the wireless networks, this does still kind of feel like later.)

We've seen some sweeping changes, and some minor changes. We've even seen some changes that are meant to tweak the earlier, bigger changes. We can expect to see more changes going down the line, too. The question is: How many of those changes are going to actually help the subscriber, rather than just the carrier?

I'm sure we all know the real answer to that. However, we can't ignore the fact that many of these changes, especially to plans and pricing, have helped quite a few people out there.

Look at today, for instance. First, we got confirmation that T-Mobile USA is ending overage fees for its customers. That might not actually effect many people (T-Mobile's Simple Choice and Simple Starter plans didn't even have overages in the first place), but the effort is in the right direction. And, to be honest, T-Mobile's shout-out to the other carriers to end the same overage fees on their networks is probably the real reason to do it in the first place. After all, the other networks have followed suit in several other moves made by the Magenta Network. Why not this one, right?

And then we've got Verizon, which made some changes for their month-to-month subscribers under the Big Red umbrella. Now, instead of paying (sigh) $40 per month for a "line access fee," you'll only have to fork over $30! Not the biggest change, but hey, $10 is 10 bucks.

AT&T has made its own changes recently, too. And Sprint's doing their own reworking of plans and prices. Basically, it's just a big sea of change and all the carriers are just riding the waves, doing what they can to stay afloat and in the customer's eye. (That's not to say any of them are about to drown and disappear, mind you. Not even close.)

With all of these alterations to plans and pricing, and even the way you can get your phones, I can't help but wonder: Are you taking advantage of what's been offered, and is it actually helping you month to month? Are you saving money with these new plans? Or are you sticking with the old one(s) for as long as you can? Let me know!