[RosieCotton]

You're going to need something other than a standard wireless card. Those will connect to a wireless router / access point - and there are lots of them available in coffee shops and restaurants and libraries and such - but the router has to be wired to something in order for wireless devices (like computers) to connect to the internet. It wouldn't work on the road, in other words.

She might be able to use blue tooth and a cell phone, but that's not something I've ever worked with. Pinging some folks who might know more.

They also make add-on cards that connect to what is basically like a cell signal. You have to have a subscription for that to work, and it's pretty expensive and, I'd guess, there aren't too many places to connect outside of major cities. Verizon's page with info on that is here.

[tomzz]

She might be able to use blue tooth and a cell phone, but that's not something I've ever worked with. Pinging some folks who might know more.

Bluetooth uses more energy than you'd want for internet usage. Most people use a tether cable and a cellphone. Unlimited data access with Cingular is an extra 20 a month which is money well spent near as I can tell. It's about double the speed of a 56K modem which is adequate for most email and browsing.

[Rudder]

Thanks a whole bunch. I'm going to need just a few minutes to digest all the info in your reply. I think she has in mind mostly using the various truck stops' facilities via a wireless router. Does this take a subscription to something like an ISP?

Also, for a fee, her cell phone Co. can make her phone capable of exchanging computer data---can this be accessed by computer modem (e.g., plugging the cell phone into a computer port? (is this what you mean that would require an add-on card?)

Bluetooth is a word I recognize, beyond that I know virtually nothing.