Recently got a cheap work phone from my job, (have to be on-call sometimes due to working with people with behavioral/medical emergencies).
This has allowed me to invest personally in a cheap but capable smart phone for roughly $60. I purchased it from a third party, though it is ready to be set up with a major carrier. Then, instead of putting together actual phone service, I just bought a skype number and subscription for about $9/per month total. From here, I just used the inherent browser to connect to the internet, download an independent browser and download manager and went from there. After downloading a free texting app, (I just ignore the annoying little ads at the bottom of its screen), I now have unlimited phone service for texting, cell calls, and landlines in all locations where I have wifi. I am obviously able to also use the web in all of the capacity I choose, and with the processing speed of the phone, if I have reasonable wifi, I can still stream video and things if I want. Due to regulations in my area, since the phone is through a major carrier, I still can use the emergency call function without activating it to dial 911, so I'm set should I desperately need to do that. Otherwise I just suck it up and wait to reply to people. It does mean I have two phone numbers, one for calls and one for text, but I haven't found this to be a problem yet.
Just wanted to share.
-pj