1) is there a way to be able to send an email to someone in my aol address book just from the contact menu on my phone? I mean, you can send an email, but my phone number comes up as the sender and not my aol email address.
Well that one is simple enough...the answer is yes...when u go into your message menu, u will see "Mobile Email." Just click on that and sign in, and when u send e-mails it will go to sender via ur Email (I don't send many Emails so im not sure if ur contact list will also be available, but i don't see why it wouldn't be). If u send some1 an Email using a regular text message, then it will be deilivered via an mms, which will go to sender via your phone number.
2) does this get charged as a text message then? since i am not technically sending it via my aol email account?
Yes it will count as sending a text. Also according to the ATT reps i have talked to, they always tell you that data charges don't apply when sending mms'. But i have always seen data use on my phone for sending and receiving mms' so i don't know exactly what to tell you...Just that u SHOULD put a data and text plan on your phone if you are going to be using mobile email, then u wouldn't have to worry about any charges.
