We’ve always been somewhat torn on cell phones in the Metro. On the one hand, those of that don’t have Verizon are somewhat jealous that we can’t talk to friends and family on long commutes to and from work; on the other hand, though, we’re happy that it isn’t our phone that’s constantly breaking the silence on Metro’s otherwise serene railcars. So today’s news from the Examiner has left us, well, even more torn:

The nation’s four largest wireless phone service providers are joining forces to land a lucrative contract to revamp and expand phone, Internet and other communication services across the Metro system, officials said Tuesday.

If the proposal is successful, wireless phone and wireless Internet devices from the four companies — Sprint-Nextel, T-Mobile, Cingular and Verizon — and others would function at station platforms, tunnels and bus stops throughout the region, according to sources close to negotiations between the companies.

Now we’ll all have cell phone service on the Metro, which means that we’ll all be able to talk. And we probably will. Suddenly, we’ll become that person who has to subject everyone else within earshot to the travails of our day, our last date, or how much we’re bummed that the Bush twins skipped town. But Metro will reap the benefits of our talkative ways — according to the Examiner, close to $15 million a year from each provider. Metro could use that money. It could help make our daily ride that much better.

We really can’t decide if this is good or bad.