How can I use the telephone while I am on the web and vice versa? I have a dial-up connection with a 56K modem and always (12 plus years) had a separate line for the computer. I am 77 years old and want to cut some costs, so maybe using one phone line for both, telephone and the web usage, but I have to be able to us both at the same time. I would appreciate any suggestion. Thank you. Tom Tom Kelley

DSL through your phone company would allow you to use both at the same time. If DSL is an option, you would use your phone company as your ISP instead of whomever you have now. DSL may not be an option for you though. Are you using dial-up because that's what you've always done? Or is that the only option because of where you live? Life's more painless for the brainless.

Best way is to get rid of the dial-up and go with DSL (if available). In many places, it's only slightly more expensive than dial-up ($19.95/mo for my BellSouth account) and as for cutting costs, the time you will save with broadband would be worth it (still cheaper than 2 phone lines)...

Get a second phoneline.

aegis, the OP has that and wants to get rid of it without tying up his phone line with dial-up. :) Life's more painless for the brainless.

Better yet flow with the trend - get wireless cell phone - it's cheaper than adding another antique but increasingly expensive landline. i_Xp/VistaUser

In a word, no. On dialup if you are on the net an incoming call will probably drop you of the net.