You're really talking about an unlocked phone, with qwerty/z key pad for email. Pop a local SIM in, email, bit of browsing, maybe even tether.

To read email, most phones with POP3/IMAP will be OK. Any of the Nokia are good. I still use an N95 as my "office mobile", and connect over eithe 3G or WiFi to sync with the office server (we don't have BB/BES).

One of the guys in the office had an E71 for a long while, and was happy with it. He's tried the HTC Tattoo for a while now, and the on-screen keyboard is troublesome to use. He's holding out for a better Android phone.

I use an Nexus One for email/data/browsing, and it's OK to read emails, and keep on top of stuff. The default email client is not as good as the Nokia (especially the E61 client), but is OK. What I find best is the portable WiFi hot spot (from FroYo 2.2) - if I need to compose a long reply, I use my notebook connected to the N1. Short replies and forwards can be done on the N1.

I agree with you about the touchscreen, but you do get used to it, and quick at it. On the N1, I paid for a T9 keyboard app, and it's great. Others use Swype.

The E71/E72 will work for you, unlocked of course. If you can get a portable hot spot client/app for the Nokia you'll have the best of all worlds.

My €0.02.

Aidan