Just a quick add-on re SMS -
with an additional software app (Treo600SMS from PDAApps -
www.pdaapps.com - ), I send and receive SMS all day long to other carriers' users, without using the dreaded ShortMail web interface. (actually, the app uses the shortmail as a proxy, and I as the user don't ever have to see it - MUCH better than how Sprint would have us use and send text messages).
Check it out!