Over the past 5 years or so, the following has been our internet access staple(s): Older VZN plan (National single rate w/2000 free weekend minutes per month)using Q2net. In addition, a T-Mobile plan currently using a Motorola V66 with PeoplePC as the ISP. Also, a Linksys Wireless-G PCMCIA card in case we wander into a Wi-Fi area.
FWIW: Although we've found signal availability superior using our VZN service (dig and analog), the on-line access has been 50% VZN and 50% T-Mobile. Only downside with the T-Mobile is 9600 bps:(........still much faster than 0.0bps.:) Wi-Fi access has been very spotty.