We'll hold our breath to see how long this remains without cost -- but for now, at Freeconferencecall.com, you can set up unlimited conference calls including up to 96 callers from anywhere in the world where calls to the US can be made. And on top of that you and your family, friends or even business connections can talk for up to 6 hours on any call. The only cost is for each participant's normal long distance connect charges. If you are the one setting up the conference call you'll be happy to know that each of the participants pays for their own call.

This special conferencing service uses your regular telephone, your own phone service and is not run using VoIP on your computer and the Internet. These nice folks tell us that they can do this without any cost because they hope to sell some of their other services. They also claim to have a squeaky clean privacy policy.

It works - it's easy - and the price is right.

Create Your Own Blog

Blog is a strange word, but a neat idea. Using a personal or business Blog - short for web log - allows you to share small bits of information with the Internet world -- along with your comments.

A Blog is like a journal or newsletter online that is updated chronologically at will. It can contain links and photos and others can join in if you wish.

At Blogger.com, you can easily set up your own Blog in about three minutes without any cost thanks to those creative folks at Google.

Test Your Computer Against Hackers

Want to see if your firewall is doing its job? Hackerwatch.org is a great community dedicated to shutting down hackers and helping individuals and businesses protect against these predators.

Here you will find a test that probes the ports on your computer to see if the rascals can get in to do their mischief. This quick test will tell you which ports are protected and if any are vulnerable to attack. We'll bet that if you are practicing safe computer you'll pass this test with ease. If not, you'll know that you have to tweak your firewall or, heaven forbid, if you don't have one set up, that you need to get one installed pronto.

Search Your Hard Drive In A Millisecond

Tired of staring at the windows search box while it grinds away trying to find that one document or e-mail that you need right now? If so visit Copernic.com, a great place and get their desktop search software -- yours without cost.

This neat helper will first index your hard drive so when you need to search for the letter or e-mail with the word "shazam" mentioned -- you'll have it in the blink of an eye. You'll also be able to search image files, music and video files along with various Internet information residing on your hard drive.

Great time saver -- and, once again, the price is right.

Published: October 4, 2004

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

John M. "Jack" Peckham is the Executive Director of REcyber.com (the Real Estate CyberSpace Society). In that capacity he oversees the development and delivery of the latest up to the minute Real Estate Cyberspace tools, strategies, networking structures and services that the Society provides its members to leverage their effectiveness, visibility, professionalism and earnings. As host of Real Estate CyberSpace Radio, he provides over 40 hours of programming to help listeners integrate the power of the Internet into their daily business lives. He is the author of several real estate books published by Prentice Hall and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich including his latest Master Guide to Income Property Brokerage from Wiley Publishing. A columnist for the Boston Herald for nine years, his syndicated columns have appeared in over 100 papers nationwide. Jack loves to sell real estate has been involved directly in the sale of over one billion dollars in Real Estate. Today he sells in his jeans and fuzzy slippers as a one-man shop and has closed over $40,000,000 in sales on the Internet recently in 20% of his working time. The balance he spends directing the affairs of the 10,000 member Real Estate CyberSpace Society. The Society awards the RECS (Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist) Designation to members based on the current criteria. He served as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is a Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and has been honored as the Massachusetts State Realtor of the Year. You can reach Jack at or by calling 617-523-4441.