I'tikaaf

Q: Can one sit for sunnah i’tikaaf out of the month of Ramadhaan?

Q: If one's fast broke during the last ten days of Ramadhaan, will his sunnah itikaaf also break? If his itikaaf breaks, will he have to make qadha of the entire ten days' itikaaf or only for the day his itikaaf broke? 

Q: When sitting for sunnah i’tikaaf, is it necessary for one to be fasting?

Q: When sitting for nafl i’tikaaf, is it necessary for one to be fasting?

Q: Is it permissible for a man sitting for Sunnah i'tikaaf to use a cell phone to check on his family at home and to see to their needs?

Q: I was reading something on one of the islamic forums on the net. They were talking about their musjid not having facilities for women’s I'tikaaf. When I mentioned that as far as I know, women are supposed to observe I'tikaaf at home, a lady replied: If a woman wishes to perform i'tikaaf, then she should do so in a masjid, so long as there is no danger in that (such as free-mixing and complacency regarding the hijaab, etc). Please explain if this is correct.