Beat the Economic Crisis

Even with a growing number of Swine Flu instances in Israel, the pandemic pandemonium seems to have abated, at least from the headlines. However, it appears that the Swine Flu and the economic crisis have left an indelible mark on the business world.

As enterprises seek to bring down costs and minimize potential exposure to the Swine Flu (airplanes are “ideal” for picking up other people’s viruses through the air ventilation system), video conferencing has gained popularity as a way to reduce travel expenses while maintaining mission critical communications.

Recent studies are showing a dramatic increase in use of video conferencing systems both on the corporate and even private levels. This shift is attributed to the requirement of minimizing travel budgets.

Here’s the good news. With a now larger base of video conferencing systems installed around the world, there are potentially more business and people with whom you can work via your own video conference system.

“Short” Flights
The Wall Street Journal published an article (June 4, ‘09) on the latest attempt by airlines to squeeze more profit out of their passengers. American, Delta, and Continental, to name a few, have added some 10-16 seats in the Economy section (”Sardine Class”) of their new 737-800’s.

Where did they find all the space from?

Well, 2 inches have been shaved off of the legroom and seat pitch between the seats, and the seat cushions are thinner. That means you’ll have about 31 very tight and uncomfortable inches for your legs. (If you are taller than 5′ 10″, ask for a window seat so you can hang your legs out the window.) The big service galley at the back of the plane was also cut down, since food and beverages are no longer being served on flights.

The real “consolation” here is that with more people on the flight, you’ll still have the same number of bathrooms and the same amount of overhead storage space. With no real seat space to maneuver, it’s probably best if you don’t bring your laptop to work on the plane.

If you must fly, we recommend seats in the exit rows. The legroom there is still 39-40 inches.

The alternative? Buy a video conferencing system from Efrat Networks and sit in the comforts of your office to conduct business with anyone, anywhere in the world!  We, at Efrat Networks, use video conferencing ourselves to avoid trips into town to meet with clients and vendors.  We save on the commute, parking fees, and the lost time back and forth.

Efrat Networks sells and installs refurbished video conferencing equipment in Israel and around the world at a fraction of the cost of new equipment, with all the ease of operation and functionality of the new systems.  In fact, our refurbished Polycom video conferencing systems have more features than new Polycom systems.

Call Efrat Networks today to shorten your commute with a Polycom video conferencing system.

Technological Solutions to the Pandemic Panic

It is no secret: the Swine Flu [Influenza A(H1N1)] is now at the top global alert level (Phase 5) of the World Health Organization (WHO). While journalists are doing their best to create global panic, and some Mexican government officials are suffering from denial, the facts are as follows (according to WHO) as of May 1 2009:

• 17 countries have officially reported 787 cases of infection.
  
• The United States Government has reported 160 laboratory confirmed human cases, including one death.
  
• Mexico has reported 506 confirmed human cases of infection, including 19 deaths.

All of Mexico City’s citizens are sitting at home, waiting for this pandemic to pass. Mexican businesses and businesses dealing with Mexico are being crippled from this forced ‘curfew’.

We don’t need this or any other pandemic to know that air travel is one of the great ways to transmit contagious illnesses. The air conditioning systems of airplanes are notorious for harboring germs and bacteria, which are easily passed around to passengers on the same flight and on later flights. Moreover, we never know the true health status of other people who board the flight with us.

OK, enough of the scare tactics. Now what?…

How do we avoid these issues and still function?

As we’ve said many times before, video conferencing systems offer a cost effective, efficient, immediate, and very practical solution to business travel and even ’shmoosing’ with the family. In the pandemic, from the safety and comforts of your office or home, you can virtually be on the other side of the globe with your clients in real time, any time.

The compelling arguments just get better when pandemic panic reaches new heights.

• You’ll save days/weeks in travel time.
  
• You’ll save money from less travel.
• You’ll improve your existing business relationships by having regular (anytime you want) face-to-faces with the critical decision-makers.
• You’ll have more time to spend with your family at home, and…
• You’ll avoid contagious carriers of H1N1.
  

The list goes on, but the point is clear. Call Efrat Networks today to discuss how we can help minimize your travel while boosting your business relations abroad.

Pandemic Tips from an Expert
Here are several tips from a pandemic expert for all of us when pandemonium hits:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly, for a period of 20 seconds, with warm soapy water.
2. Wash your hands frequently.
3. When coughing and sneezing, (regardless of whether you think you’re sick) cover your nose and mouth in the inside of your elbow or on your upper sleeve.(The people standing nearby will thank you for not ’showering’ them with your germs).
4. Don’t travel to Mexico.
5. Don’t go to work when you are sick.
6. Don’t send relatives to work or school when they are sick.
7. Take care of yourself while caring for others who are sick. (They need you well.)
8. Be very aware of how you and your loved ones feel. This flu comes on fast, and if it doesn’t stay mild for you, it will hit like a ton of bricks in a matter of a couple of hours to half a day. Don’t wait to see if it passes.
9. Understand that you are contagious during the 24-48 hours prior to showing symptoms yourself, and you remain contagious until as many as 7 days after your symptoms began, maybe longer.
10. Call Efrat Networks to install a refurbished video conferencing system…save time and money while traveling less.

P.S. We’ve seen several reports that the medical masks really don’t work when worn over an extended period of time.