Upgrading Verizon Phone - Need Internet for laptop

Hello,

I have Verizon Wireless service and live in Northern New England. We travel extensively in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Currently, we have the Nokia 3589i and it's really a piece of junk. We've been "nursing" it through for nearly a year 'till we qualify for a new phone under "new every two" which is coming up in a month. Cell phone service up here is really pathetic - I thought about switching to Cingular but friends have it and almost never have reception so I'm planning to stay with Verizon at this point.

OK, so I'd like advice regarding a new phone. Tri-mode is a must as I have to have analog capability. Since service is so spotty (and cell towers few and far between as well as mountains to contend with) I really need a phone with good reception. Battery life is a real issue as well. Because the phone drops into Analog mode frequently, battery power is sucked away almost before your eyes. As far as other requirements, I need Mobile Web (WAP 2.0 right?) and a speakerphone. Camera, MP3 aren't important either way - I'd buy a phone with or without if the other features were great. I'd like the ability to sync my Contacts in Outlook with the phone (don't care if I need to use a data cable or bluetooth). I also would like to be able to use the phone periodically as a "modem" for my laptop. I've never really done anything like that so even though I'n generally good at technology stuff, using cell phones for internet is all new to me. I have dial up service so I'm thinking I could use either a data cable or bluetooth to connect to the phone and then use the phone to call in to my dial up account - thereby bypassing Verizon's proprietary internet access (not talking about there mobile web here). Would that work?

OK, so now down to specifics. Which phone? When I purchased the Nokia 3589i, it was an inexpensive option but I've really regretted not getting a phone of greater quality. Years ago I have a Moto Startac 7868W and I think you'd have to shoot it to get it to quit. It still works great. So, I want something with longevity that works. I'm looking at Moto V710, LG 6100, there may be others. I'm not really "married" to any particular one. I have until October so perhaps there are upcoming models that will work out better? I've seen great and terrible reviews for both models. You can see my needs above so what do you think?