sunnydips, I realize the idea is get rid of the cell contract. That said, the only way to do what you're wanting to do and not have a contract is to pay month-to-month on a mobile broadband plan and use a cradlepoint (the 300 has a built-in battery). Since you wouldn't be subsidizing the cost of the evdo usb adapter with a guaranteed contract, there would be the initial cost for both the cradle point and the modem. This is exactly the method I'll be using (my equipment shows up today).

And yes, my cradlepoint will be unsecured. :P