According to a Pew survey, 63% of Americans have broadband access, which means you probably do too. But are you using your broadband access efficiently? Are you taking advantage of all that your high speed internet connection offers?

Each day you may check your email, the weather, sports scores, and Google everything you can possibly think of, but did you know there is more? You can slash your phone bill, search thousands of recipe collections, telecommute, and more! Follow me as we explore the power of your broadband connection and the limitless possibilities that come with it.

Ditch your landline

With VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), you can replace your old landline with a multi-functional, reliable phone service. For $24.99, Vonage (www.vonage.com) offers unlimited local and long distance calling, including five countries in Europe. It also includes 25 features, including voicemail, call waiting, and 3-way calling. You can choose a local number from anywhere in the USA and it works with a standard telephone and a Vonage adapter connected to your existing cable or DSL modem. The features are terrific and the value is incomparable.

TV and Movies Streamed Directly to Your Computer

Do you really need that expensive cable or satellite service? Many of your favorite TV shows are available online through either the TV network's website, hulu.com, or in complete seasons on netlix.com. With a high-speed connection streaming movies and TV shows is easy and, in most cases, free.

Text for Free From Your Computer

Instant messaging applications such as Yahoo Instant Messenger and Windows Live Messenger have a great feature that allows you to send texts directly to a cell phone. The person you are texting does not have to have either of these messaging services, however, standard texting fees apply to the recipient. For information on participating wireless providers and details on this service, check with each messaging application.

Who Needs A Cookbook?

Who needs a cookbook when you have the web? Sites such as allrecipes.com and bettycrocker.com offer enormous recipe databases that are free to search and print in various forms (full sheet, 3X5 index card, etc). You can also email them and save them to an online recipe box. The day of the cookbook is over.

Need a Job At Home

Forget the scams, there are many legitimate job opportunities online. Whether you are a writer (helium.com, associatedcontent.com), a mystery shopper (mysteryshop.org), or a freelancer (odesk.com), there is a job for you. LiveOps.com is also a great place to look for call center agents. Check them out, you'll be surprised at how easy it is. But beware, some sites put on a great facade. If they ask for money for their services or offer a free trial, it is most likely a scam.

The internet is a great source of information, but can also enrich many aspects of your life. The more you explore, the more you will great things you will find.

Learn more about this author, Colene Pefley.
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