Howdy!
Mobile Data--Am I correct in thinking I can catch a wifi at my house, in a library or park, etc? So, I do not need to pay for internet via my phone?
Yes. So long as your phone is on a WiFi connection, you do not utilize your cell phone's data connection.
GoogleVoice--I'm getting rid of my land line. Would GoogleVoice both replace my land line as well as complement the text messages I'm allowed in the AirVoice plan?
Eh. One, if you're wanting to port your landline number over to GV, it's not going to happen... they port cell phone numbers only. Two, not without utilizing GV with an ATA like the Obi100 at home or a SIP bridge like Talkatone on your phone and leaving your phone connected to WiFi at home. Personally, I'm not a fan. GV isn't a service I'd entirely call
reliable.
Frugalman's a great case study if you won't take my word for it.
You get what you pay for.You could reduce text costs with it, though... but there's better alternatives to that by using SMS alternative chat services with your heaviest messengers, either oldskool or balkanized newskool. Yahoo, Skype, Google Talk/
Nimbuzz/
XMPP,
Kik or the latest cross-platform darling on the scene
XMS (real-time push notifications on Symbian S40!).
Is there anything I am missing?
My blog's got a
VoIP primer, maybe give it a read since you're weighing home phone alternatives. My biggest concern is that you're prepared for the realities of the usage level the $10/month plan has if you go that route, but that's a concern born out of so many others who have come and gone burning through their balance within a week because they didn't know what their average usage levels were like. If you're already barely using your phone or are aiming for one of the $30+ plans, just ignore that last part.
Good luck, and feel free to drop me a line if you need any help!