Roaming service: Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will provide you with a roaming service at a cost. They normally charge a connection fee and then per minute, they also allow you to connect through the local telephone lines in whichever country you may be. Long-distance call: Alternatively you could make a long distance call and connect through that. Downloadable dialer: The ISP and roaming service will normally provide relevant local telephone numbers. They even have a downloadable dialer that contains all the numbers from around the world. Trouble-shoot roaming: Ensure you have changed the country setting of your modem and the dialer's location status. Proxy server: Does your ISP use a proxy server? If so, disable that function accordingly. Call local service: If all the troubleshooting fails, call the ISP's local help number. Strangely, most of these local help numbers will ask you for your password. Do not give it, just try and work out where the problem lies. Guarantee your presence: The most important thing is that you stay connected and continue to receive your e-mails while away. Open a new e-mail account. This can easily be done from one of the many thousands of free e-mail companies such as Yahoo!. Mail forwarding: You can mail forward from your ISP (your normal e-mail address - such as @netvigator) to your new e-mail address. This means that whenever you receive an e-mail at your normal address, it will be saved and also sent on to your new e-mail address. You can start the forwarding process from the ISP Web site, however, if you have any problems then just call your ISP help line. Business centre: When using a mail-forwarding service, if you cannot log on to your own account, then at least you can use somebody else's computer, such as one at a business centre, and go to www.yahoo.com , or wherever your new e-mail address is housed, in order to receive all your mail. Confidentiality: Always bear in mind that e-mail is never completely confidential unless you are using encrypted software such as PGP Freeware or Free Guard, so if you do have to say something about your boss, be nice! Graphic: TRIGBgwz
