I'm a long time user of Palm products but totally new user to Smartphones and for that matter any cellphone that uses GSM and SIM cards. I have a few questions.

1) What's the cheapest way to go for phone service for a small time user? Like say less than 30 minutes a month?

2) Can I purchase and use a pay-as-you-go (let's call them PAYGO) SIM card from ATT or T-mobile with a locked phone? Or stated differently, if I have a ATT phone can I purchase a prepaid SIM for it?

3) Do PAYGO SIMS have certain phone numbers assigned to them or is a phone number assigned to a user and you just have top up with the SIM? I don't want to go through a long process of registering a SIM every few weeks (I have no idea how this works).

4) Can you purchase PAYGO data services too with a SIM card or do some SIMS come as both data and phone?

5) How can you tell if your phone is locked? Is there a quick way or do you have to try a SIM to find out?

6) I'm probably going to use one service for simplicity so do I even bother getting a unlocked phone or do I just go with say a locked ATT 680?

I'd love to combine my phone (Virgin Mobile) and my Palm TX but not at $40.00 per month. I just don't use my phone that much. I'd also like access to some email, but again not instant and just when I knew there was something pressing and for another $20-$30 per month. There must be a better way? Can anyone help?

Thanks,

mystery2me