We're in a place in the technology world today where your laptop and phone can connect to the internet with or without a connection, whether you're at home or on the go. That means the world is your IT Apartment. And for your laptop it's your personal computer with its own IP address, which means that you have a unique computer address, no matter how many computers are on the network you're using. What this means is that while you're away from your home computer you can use your phone and laptop or tablet to connect from any location you'd like. But how do you use these networks to the fullest? The answer is free software. Most of the free applications for laptops and phones offer exactly what their name implies: free software to access the networks. This is very important, because not all networks support this kind of software. For example, if you're connected to WIFI (a form of wireless internet) but not a wired network, then you need to be able to connect to other computers on that network. Many free applications offer a variety of functions, including text messaging, IM, Wi-Fi hotspot sharing, file transfer, data transfer, VoIP, and more. Depending on the free software you choose, these functions may vary. Some software has a less expensive option to upgrade to a paid version when you buy a license, such as Skype, but there are still other free software programs that you can use indefinitely, even if your phone or laptop is still at home. If you're on the road with your laptop or phone, there's nothing stopping you from downloading free software applications that allow you to connect to the networks wherever you happen to be.