This all sounds confusing and expensive to me!!  We find that using local libraries is best - and it's free!!  We can check all e-mail acounts there and don't have to fuss with it.  We carry a laptop, but have trouble getting dial up phone numbers from SBC in the areas we are traveling in.  About the only time we use the laptop is when we're staying at somebody's house.  I've heard that satellite ISP is about $80 a month and the equipment is horribly expensive at this point in time.  Maybe things have changed lately.

Sharon & Bob Mendonca