Long-distance love affairs have become the norm for many mobile Bermudians, who are finding unique ways to "reach out and touch someone'' -- including utilising the Internet.

And in our increasingly complex and technologically advanced world, stories about Internet romances are becoming more and more common.

Hollywood is even cashing in on the theme of high-tech love. A new film featuring the leading box-office draws Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, entitled "You've Got Mail'', is about business rivals who anonymously meet in cyberspace and fall in love.

The film opens on the Island today at The Little Theatre -- and as part of a promotional package, North Rock Communications Ltd., one of Bermuda's two commercial Internet Service Providers (ISP), has teamed up with the Queen Street theatre to offer a voucher for free Internet connection with the purchase of a movie ticket.

North Rock General Manager Tom Coelho said many local residents have discovered the Internet is a great tool for keeping in contact with loved ones -- both romantic interests and family members.

He notes that even a number of parents and grandparents have set up accounts during the Christmas holidays to stay in contact with grandchildren in school overseas, a move he says which helps to cut down on expensive long distance telephone bills.

One Bermudian man in his late 20s, named "John'', met "Kathy'', who lived in Asia.

The couple -- who did not wish to reveal their true identies -- told The Royal Gazette they met a little over a year ago in an online chatroom while he was attending school in North America.

"This character came in and said something really profound.. . I just kinda jumped on it and pushed a conversation,'' said John.

The two chatted back and forth, meeting later that same day in the chatroom.

They exchanged music and eventually met in a live chatroom -- where you can actually see the other person's message as they type it in -- and talked for more than six hours.

"The live chatroom is about as close to actual chatting you can get without speaking,'' John noted.

John, who is currently working in the computer industry, spent long hours on the Net even before he met Kathy -- at times, he would log on first thing in the morning and stay online until 2 a.m. the following morning.

"It's really sad in retrospect -- the only classes I was going to were the computer related ones,'' he laughed.

"But we spoke online for a few hours every day -- I loved talking to her, we had similar childhood experiences, and I really enjoyed talking to people from different cultures,'' he added.

Most have heard stories about online romances gone bad, and John was no exception -- so he was a bit wary about giving Kathy too much information in the beginning of their Internet friendship.

"I was the one who refused to give her my phone number and tell her where I lived, because she wanted to visit me,'' he said.

"I was very cautious... I'm one of these people who has no time for disturbances in my life, especially considering some of the stories you hear.

"A girl I knew who lived in the States would routinely get to know people through the Internet, have them come visit, buy a lot of things for her, and send them packing.

"So I thoroughly checked Kathy out -- I even traced her IP (Internet Protocol) number,'' he added.

After almost six months of online chatting and telephone conversations, John agreed to a meeting -- so Kathy flew to North America to visit.

"We met at the airport, and the initial energy is something to note... we made eye contact for the first time from about ten feet away, and she had a look on her face like she was ready to die from nervousness,'' said John.

"It's one of the most emotional things you can imagine -- you spend months and months speaking with this person and suddenly they're in front of you.

"Her visit was four-times longer than she anticipated because I wouldn't let her go -- and when she left, we spent four hours crying together because we both thought we'd never see each other again,'' he added.

But Kathy visited John three months after their initial meeting -- and this time to stay. The two married within six months of her first visit and have since returned to Bermuda.

John encourages Internet romance because he said it gives you a chance to really get to know the person you're chatting with.

"I learned a lot about her -- probably more than I should have,'' said John.

"You can truly get to know someone without getting confused by their looks.

And you really get to touch down on their emotional spots.

"But remember that the Internet is just an extension of reality -- there are still some people pretending to be something they're not -- so the same rules apply. About half (the people) are not their for romantic reasons.

"But I'd encourage it. I've known some really good success stories -- even my own.'' CYBER LOVE Even couples with established relationships can spice up their lives with a few high-tech ways of sending love via the Net. One Internet website listed a "Dozen Ways to be Romantic Online'' Send a verse from "Romeo and Juliet'' via email; send a link to an exotic vacation spot or country inn and tell your mate that's where the two of you will be spending the weekend; build a website with links to her favourite sites; send the recipe of a favourite meal and tell your honey it will be waiting when s/he arrives home from work; send archived newspaper article from the day you met; scan and email a picture of yourself; send a Roberta Flack, Frank Sinatra or Barry White love song soundbyte; send an email of hugs and kisses; send him or her their daily horoscope via email; send a romantic "You've Got Mail'' bouquet from 1-800-FLOWERS; send a funny online greeting; dine by the glow of your computer screens, plan a romantic cyber-dinner for two;