Need advice on choosing a new phone...

Alright.. for the last 2+ years I've been using a Motorola E398. I got it unlocked from eBay and have regretted it ever since. It is world phone, and doesn't pick up service in the U.S. outside of cities of 50,000+ people. It also won't access internet, and has a few other annoyances that I'm tired of putting up with.

For starters, one of the main things I'm looking to get in a new phone is the ability to access the internet. Since I've never really been able to do this, I know next to nothing about accessing data from my phone. So, I'm going to add unlimited data to my plan for an additional $15/mo. I'd like to milk that unlimited data plan for all it's worth. Would it be possible to get a smartphone and use its internet capabilities with the unlimited data plan? What about wi-fi? Would I have to pay an additional fee to be able to access wi-fi networks?

If a smartphone is the way to go, which one would you recommend for light texting/emailing and internet usage?

If a normal cell-phone is a better route, any recommendations on a good phone for what I need it for?

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Well if you want wi-fi access you will have to get a PDA style phone, as of the last time I checked the only current models that had wi-fi access were the AT&T Tilt and the iPhone 3G. Of course the original iPhone can as well as can the AT&T 8525. With the Tilt you could purchase it and not get a data plan and only access internet through wi-fi and that would be free. But with the iPhone there is a mandatory $30 unlimited data plan, that is the data plan you would need to get with a PDA phone. The $15 only applies to non-PDA phones. If you're looking for fast internet and live in a 3G coverage area, just stick to phones that are 3G capable, which honestly is the majority of the phones AT&T currently offers. The PDA's always will have faster internet, that is why you pay more per month. It just depends on what you're looking for. If you don't plan on pushing emails or actually needing the functionality of a PDA I would go for a regular phone and just forget about the wi-fi access. If you really want wi-fi I can personally vouch for the Tilt as I have had hands on experience with it and absolutely loved the full qwerty keyboard as well as touch screen functionality(this is touch screen with a stylus now, not like the iPhone or the Vu) as well as the Windows Mobile that comes preloaded, and again, you could just forget the data plan and only utilize wi-fi and not pay for that. Really just depends on what features you are looking for though, good camera, good media options, etc etc.