Doesn't it annoy you when people or businesses think it's really cool to give their e-mail address and not include their telephone number? Members of the Bermuda Computer Society did just that when they sent out a press release announcing the upcoming technology fair to be held at Number 1 shed.

I wanted to write a full story about the fair, and needed to talk to the people listed as contacts. There were some intriguing statements in the release.

I was not about to post an e-mail to all of them and hope for an answer. As a reporter I needed to talk to one of them right then. Someone once described the news as `history on the run.' I don't have time to chase after contacts for such a story. As it was, they missed out on better exposure for an exciting event. Too bad.

The exclusion of a telephone number is probably an indication of wishful thinking e-mail will one day replace the telephone a means of communications.

Sorry guys. You know and I know e-mail is an another useful means of communications for certain types of messages. E-mail is not a better means of communications. It is not a replacement for the telephone, or for regular mail.

They are not alone. Such behaviour happens all the time, although less frequently as people become more used to having the Internet around. Some die hards still persist in giving their e-mail address, and only that, as a means of contact.

They also forget many people aren't on e-mail yet. Many Internet sites only include a hyperlinked e-mail address, and neglect to include the telephone number. They're just cutting themselves off from people who require an immediate answer.

People should also remember to include a telephone number somewhere in their e-mail messages. By the way, in case you're wondering, I'm slightly embarrassed to say readers still can't contact me by e-mail, although I do have an address. We're working on it, however.

Digital gold could be yours. Freebie hunters can find loads of high-quality free stuff online. PC World magazine's April edition has collected the best in the third annual `The Best Free Stuff Online.' You can also find the links at www.pcworld.com/april98/free--stuff where freeware, shareware and baked beans are a mouse click away.

The magazine has selected the best free Windows utilities, sound and graphics tools, browser plug-ins, and interactive games. The authors identify places to download drivers, sign up for no-charge Web services, and get financial information. You can earn frequent flyer miles and one site even offers a free can of baked beans. Try explaining that package to Customs when it arrives to Bermuda.

PC World has also included an article, `Six steps for smart downloading' to help you along. Just don't download software on to your company's machine or you'll drive your technicians bananas. Go home and pack up your own hard drive.

Peter Kiewit Sons Inc. is a forward looking company that's taking a gamble on technology which might be a foretaste of the future in telecommunications.

The company is building a $3 billion, 20,000-mile fibre optic cable communication network across the US. While three other companies are also building similar networks, Kiewit's network is the first to be based on Internet Protocol (IP) technology.

Regular networks transmit voice and data messages in one chunk. When you make a phone call or send a fax you tie up one line. IP technology allows the messages to be broken up into packets that are sent independently of one anther.

Once they, arrive the packets are put together again. Thus IP technology allows packets from different sources to be mixed up together on the same line and still reach their various destinations. IP uses the lines more efficiently, and hence for less cost than traditional networks.

Still we aren't quite there yet. Kiewit, which is building the network through subsidiary Level 3 Communications Inc., is however gambling that by the time the network is completed other technology will be in place to allow the company to offer voice and data services cheaper than the competition.

IP works for data and fax quite well. But it currently doesn't do a good job of transmitting voice and video. Kiewit is making a $3-billion bet technological advances will be working better for voice and video by the time it goes to market.

There seems to be a lot more people in Bermuda who feel burned by Halifax Plc -- Britain's largest mortgage lender -- than the current six who have joined the United Halifax Victims (UNHAV) group.

A couple of people who have mortgages with the company but didn't get shares when the company demutualised and went public have told me of others who want to join UNHAV.

Gadfly Brian Hazlehurst, who lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, took to the Internet to try and gather people together to do battle with the giant: "I didn't know how to fight Halifax until I heard about him,'' a friend told me. Unfortunately we screwed up by substituting a wrong computer coding instruction for the $ tilde sign. Now we know better. Those who want to talk to him can telephone 55-21-556-1846.

Tech Tattle is moving from its regular Wednesday spot to Monday. The column focuses on technological developments. If you have any topics you'd like to discuss Ahmed at 295-5881, ext. 248, or 238-3854.