Did the internet provider tell you this service was available? There are two ways you can use your Bluetooth phone to connect to the Internet: Use the phone as a modem for a dial-up connection to an Internet service provider (ISP). Use the phone to connect your computer directly to a network provided by your cellular service provider (such as GPRS or 1xRTT). Model # of phone________. Is it bluetooth ready? Make and model of pc________. Is it a laptop?

Another option would be to go with Prepaid Plus and load their individual phones, and what is loaded is good for up to 120 days. Any minutes that remain when the phone is reloaded (before the 120 days are up) will automatically be rolled over. This would curb their use (and possibly abuse) and be very affordable for you. From the link below: 100 minutes for $10 or 250 texts at 5 cents per text 416 minutes for $25 or 10,400 texts at 5 cents a minute 1,000 minutes for $50 or 25,000 texts at 5 cents a minute 2,000 minutes for $80* or 50,000 texts at 5 cents a minute *While the $10, $25 and $50 denominations of the Standard plan last 120 days, the $80 denomination lasts for a full year. I've used Page Plus for years and have had no problems. The phone is not used for my entertainment, but for occasional use for my convenience when I am away from home. Longer calls, phone visits with loved ones, are made from land line at home. My phone doesn't take and send pics, but then that is why I have a camera and a computer. Good luck in your search for a good, reasonably priced solution for your family staying in touch as needed. Here is a link that might be useful: Prepaid Cell Phone Plans: Standard Plan

I guess it all depends on how much you call from home versus away from home or on the road. We use pre-paid cellular. The new phones were free after rebate and my wife and I each spend about $5-$7/month for the STI Mobile/Sprint service. We only make quick 1-2 minute calls for necessary reasons and it works fine anywhere in the country that Sprint covers. Voice mail and text messaging are turned off on both cellular phones. Other cellular providers are now joining the pre-paid game with good deals. We are still stuck with the old telephone company for home and home office lines. I must have the reliability and quality of a landline for my business. I do pay too much for long distance, toll-free, and local service for my business compared to the low rates available today. Bills are typically $35-$50/month for relatively low volume usage. The last time I switched was from MCI to Ameritech(i.e. SBC/AT&T/who knows?) It was a pain to switch, but the new lower rates were good for a year before they went up again. Our home phone line just went up to $22/month for local phone service. It started at $18 several years ago. Pre-paid long distance service is $.025/minute using cards from companies like Cheap Phonecards. The latest cards don't require you to enter the pin every time from home and you can program the 800 access number into speed dial. The long distance cards are great from hotels too. We are seriously considering the switch to broadband phone service, but our local numbers are not yet portable for Vonage or the others. We are just outside of their large markets. Broadband cable internet is $30/month and speed is around 300K or 10 times faster than dial-up. It is fast enough for our needs. The total bill (excluding my business) is around $67/month for all phones and broadband for my wife and I. Here is a link that might be useful: Cheap Phone Cards

I'm going to say the answer is Yes, same data usage either way. If you want to be sure, call the carrier. Another thing to do is to ask them to turn off their data and maximize the use of Wifi connections on the trip and at home between now and the end of the billing cycle. (Wifi to public locations like a hotel, Starbucks, McD's, libraries, not to one of the other phones) Some carriers charge less for overages if you buy it in advance (temporarily up your monthly quota and then drop it after the billing period ends), others don't. You can ask about how that works when you call, if that concerns you.