[peppie]

I guess I wasn't only thinking of the cost of extra phones (although I do try to be careful with spending more than I need to, a bit hard in my sort of line of work because technology just takes off with you), but I find that the extra options can make things so helpful and convenient.

For instance, my wife and 3 kids and I have been getting to know a small community where it is still very much a country atmosphere. Trouble is that the big communications companies have also forgotten them to some degree. There is very little mobile phone service and only recently have they gained a half reasonable internet service.

Now when we visit we do have access to low speed broadband and because of the way we have our phone services set up I can have all redirected to one voicemail that will email to me a sound file of the message. Then with the laptop I can phone someone back via a software phone over the internet. Not ideal, still workable, but only possible because of the technology designed to overcome a slightly difficult problem.

The funny thing is that I can conduct my business sitting on a farm veranda 5 hours from Sydney, and unless you manage to detect the bell bids in the background,,, you just wouldn't know.

Now, if we can manage to put in a wireless point on that internet I will be able to use my mobile phone via the connection as well, hmmmm.