Surviving the DNC with telework tools

The 2004 Democratic National Convention Web site includes "alternate routes" for Boston-area commuters to take during the event. But the smartest route is down the hall to the home office.

Major arteries including parts of Interstate 93 and Route 1, and the Sumner Tunnel and Tobin Bridge, will close after 4 p.m., potentially stranding commuters. Boston's North Station also will close.

Downplaying the problem, DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe expects the 35,000 delegates, media and attendees to stay near the convention site, traveling primarily by bus or on foot. But Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is urging area firms to let employees telework, work staggered hours or just stay away. Many might heed that last option: Of the 1,600 Boston-area residents surveyed by travel retailer Vacation Outlet, 77% say they will leave town on vacation during the convention.

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The 2004 Democratic National Convention Web site includes "alternate routes" for Boston-area commuters to take during the event. But the smartest route is down the hall to the home office.

Major arteries including parts of Interstate 93 and Route 1, and the Sumner Tunnel and Tobin Bridge, will close after 4 p.m., potentially stranding commuters. Boston's North Station also will close.

Downplaying the problem, DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe expects the 35,000 delegates, media and attendees to stay near the convention site, traveling primarily by bus or on foot. But Boston Mayor Thomas Menino is urging area firms to let employees telework, work staggered hours or just stay away. Many might heed that last option: Of the 1,600 Boston-area residents surveyed by travel retailer Vacation Outlet, 77% say they will leave town on vacation during the convention.

Metropolitan Boston DSL provider Verizon doesn't anticipate problems handling an increased load of home workers during the convention, although a company spokesperson says he expects those who rely on a dial-up connection those days will have their interest in DSL "piqued."

To encourage telework and get some attention, three local companies are offering their services for free. During the week of July 26, NetSpoke will give new customers a seven-day free trial of its Web conferencing service, which includes the first audio call. Service includes unified audio- and videoconferencing, reservation-less audioconferencing, conference recording, transcription and archiving.

Intranets.com is offering its collaboration service free through Aug. 31. The service lets users share documents, schedule meetings, post announcements, assign tasks and conduct online meetings. The deal includes 300 free audioconferencing minutes, and the company plans to donate any related profits to two Boston homeless shelters.

Phil Montero, Boston telework trainer and consultant, negotiated with Citrix to offer free unlimited use of remote desktop access service GoToMyPC through July 31. The service gives users all the applications and data on a host system from any Web browser. The offer is open to everyone who signs up at Montero's YouCanWorkFromAnywhere.com.

Read more about telework in Network World's Telework section.