Get a New Phone

Got broadband Internet access and you're not sure what to do with all that bodacious bandwidth? Give Skype a try.

Skype uses your computer's Internet connection to make phone calls. You can use a regular old computer headset, or you can buy one of an assortment of wireless phones that work with Skype, like this one, which lets you make calls away from your computer.

The lure of Skype is that if you get all your friends to start using it, you can call them for free. Anywhere in the world. And for those folk who are stuck like glue to their landline, you can still call them for the unbelievably low low price of $29 a year for unlimited calls! (Unfortunately calls to land lines are only available in the US and Canada.)

And check this out. With Skype you can use a webcam to actually see the people you're talking to (up to nine folks at once). Which could be a bad thing, but hey, you've got to admit the coolness factor is pretty high there.

Now I just wish my home Internet connection was working (we have to wait another week because of a cut wire or something).

'Til next time...