I haven't used a cell phone but I have used internet cafes. Sometimes they are very strange (pool halls); sometimes the hours are erratic. However usually you can do what you want to do at a fairly reasonable cost. There are lots of lists on the web - just Google internet cafes or cybercafes.

Here's something to get you started! http://goeurope.about.com/cs/cybercafes/ About staying connected in Europe and lists of links.

Here's one for Venice: http://goeurope.about.com/library/bl_venice_internet.htm

Frances Toronto, Canada