[alphabassettgrrl]

I love my BlackBerry, too. My hubby has the full internet on his, and I've used it sometimes. It can be a little wierd if the website doesn't recognize that it's a cellphone; it tries to send images that are too big. Most sites do know, however, and send text only. Or thumbnail pictures. The map feature has been handy sometimes.

My BB has only the text-messaging and I adore having a real keyboard. The Pearl has a half-keyboard, but everything is in the right places, with two letters per key or so. The Curve has a full keyboard. I haven't found the half-size thing to be problematic at all and it's smaller.

Can't tell you about the area code thing. The only issue I see is the WA office may not like billing you in LA. Depending how secure your office is at work, they may forbid cell phones. I know one guy who works in a military base and he is incommunicado while at work. You may not be in such a secure space, though, and have no problems.