Verizon edge program is the way to go now.
you can get any phone or device at the Verizon store instantly for no up front payment, or deposit.
you are in a 2year contract that they just put like 20 bucks extra each month on the bill to pay for the phone.
if at any time you wanna upgrade, just pay the difference off and restart the whole deal.
so like yearly i pay about 100 bucks for a brand new phone upgrade :D
they even give everyone a 500 dollar credit on your account. so you can add another phone or tablet from them and they just up your bill a little till it comes back.
so any broke idiot can walk into a verizon, and leave with 1 or 2 of the newest devices, and just pay like 100 bucks a month bill.