I've owned this phone for 2 months now--it replaced my Moto E815 which recently broke. I'm very pleased with the TypeV. Signal strength is similar if not better than E815 US-wide (I travel weekly for work) which is excellent. If you can find one at your local Verizon store, the cost will likely be a lot less. Mine was zero. Yes, it is really waterproof, drop proof, and dust proof (I just wash it off). If you drive a Jeep, this phone is a perfect match. The only complaint I have is battery life. I do seem to have to charge it nearly daily if it is in frequent use. And the low battery warning is like a cliff--one minute you are talking. Next second the phone has shut off. But I'll take the lower battery life on a phone which excels at being just that--a rugged phone which you can take anywhere and not panic you'll break it.