or those debating how to set up a network throughout an office or home, consider the HomePlug, a generic name for a number of retail products that use existing power lines to transmit data.

To set up a HomePlug network you need a router to transfer your Internet connection from a DSL or Cable modem to your electrical system.

You also need a series of converter plugs through which all your computing machines (desktops, laptops, printer, scanner) can connect to the instant network, all though an ordinary wall socket.

For example Asoka?s PlugLink series has a cable/DSL router and USB and Ethernet connection plugs offering a minimum 1 Mbps data rate and up to 14Mbps through your electrical system.

The HomePlug alliance, a group of retailers and developers who aim to set common standards, claims the system can provide coverage of up to 300 metres through power lines.

Many small businesses are using the HomePlug system in conjunction with a wireless (WiFi) system to extend the reach of a network to those hard to reach places. Asoka, for example, offers a plug converter that allows you to combine your wireless system with your power line network.

Even though Asoka says there?s an electrical outlet every three metres on average in a home or business, all those plugs may already be in use if you?re a busy business or a tech heavy family. So combining WiFi with HomePlug for your network makes sense if your aim is to eliminate Ethernet cables running though the building.

An Asoka router costs about $115 while each plug sells for about $90 at Amazon. A router and four plugs will cost about $475, not including custom duties and shipping. Asoka is only one of 14 manufacturers of such products.computer-networking products are sold. Belkin, Linksys, Samsung and Siemens also sell similar products.

For more information go to the HomePlug site () and click on the ?Products? section.

Hotmail, has entered the battle to remain the world?s largest free e-mail server, by offering its users 250 megabytes of storage ? up from two megabytes now. The expansion in space will be offered to subscribers later this year.

Sometime this summer Hotmail will offer virus scanning on incoming mail. Users will also be able to send and receive 10-megabyte attachments. Hotmail is following in the footsteps of Google, which announced earlier this year that it would add a free e-mail service with one gigabyte of storage space.

Yahoo was recently boosted capacity to 100 megabytes with the ability to send up to 10 megabytes per attachment. Hotmail will also introduce Hotmail Plus.

For an annual fee of $30 users will receive two gigabytes of space. Hotmail (part of MSN and hence Microsoft) claims to have 170 million active users.

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One way of sending short messages to someone?s cellphone by computer is to use Teleflip.com. If you know someone?s cellphone number, you can send him or her a short text message using Teleflip. You don?t have to go to theTeleflip Web site. Open your e-mail program, compose a note and address it putting the cell phone number before ?teleflip.com? as in?cellphonenumberteleflip.com?

The free system currently works only for cell phones in North America. But you can send messages from anywhere. I tried it from France and my sister received the message in Toronto.

One-third of 340 technology companies that have given advance news on their results for the reporting quarter said earnings were higher than expected.

About 16 percent said they would be in line with analysts? projections.

About half issued warnings that they would miss expectations.

The warnings led to a fall by billions of dollars in the market value of software companies so far this month.

Hang on for another wild ride on the technology balloon? Or is the sector just taking a breather?

Well the July madness that belongs to the Tour de France (or the Tour de Lance) is on me now, and I?m looking forward to this Sunday (April 19) when Armstrong and the other 175 riders pass close by Montpellier. An excellent way to follow this great cycling race online is at ww.letour.fr.

The site has ongoing text commentary on the race as it develops, who?s leading and how far the chase group is behind them. You can also hear live audio in English.

However, nothing beats the spectacle of amazing athletes snaking their machines though narrow village streets, heading for the open countryside and the hills.