The decision by Leap and MetroPCS to settle all litigation between the two regional carriers long thought to be headed toward a merger was big, but the 10-year roaming agreement between the two [1] was even bigger.

Couple this with MetroPCS and Leap's decisions to offer nationwide plans [2] and the fact that the economy is officially in a recession, and that's a potent brew for the two carriers to experience a renaissance of sorts. These low-cost operators with their all-you-can-eat bucket plans that don't require a two-year commitment are looking very appealing to consumers that want to tighten their budgets but still have cellular service.