DiData offers video relief services for US tragedy

Americans unable to get back to the US and South Africans with family impacted by the recent terror attacks in New York and Washington can now connect visually with their loved ones. This is thanks to Dimension Data`s sponsored video conferencing services from major centres nationwide.

It`s technology with a heart. Dimension Data is providing the services to those in real need from its offices in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth, in conjunction with US-based partner, PictureTel, global leader in integrated collaboration.

"There has been an understandably huge demand from both Americans stranded here and those South Africans with families directly affected by the disaster," says Gary McHugh, managing director of Dimension Data Interactive Media. "Dimension Data is donating its video conferencing facilities to enable them not only to talk to - but to actually see - their loved ones.

"Video conferencing gives a real sense of `being there`. Corporates globally are looking at how they can actively provide assistance and we believe that using technology for humanitarian benefit in a situation like this is a valuable and useful contribution that we can make," he says.

Those wishing to inquire about the service should contact the project co-ordinator, Sonia Thatcher at Dimension Data on (011) 709 1535, or sonia.thatcher@za.didata.com. Thatcher will manage the logistics, and set up screening facilities in the company`s video conferencing rooms for valid and critical requests.

Those participating will then need to organise that their families in the US get to one of the many specified sites throughout the US at the designated time. A full list of these sites is available at www.picturetel.com, in the Video Relief section.

Dimension Data`s Australian offices are also participating in the project, which will be driven out of Sydney, but available in all major cities across Australia.

This project forms part of a global programme initiated by PictureTel to help families connect. The company has invited its business partners and customers to contribute to a central reference site where individuals, organisations, and businesses can find information about locations where they can use existing video conferencing rooms. The facilities may be utilised for communication with distant family members, or to aid in the business crisis planning process.

PictureTel is also offering loaner video conferencing equipment, including wireless solutions and technical support personnel to emergency management organisations, hospitals, and humanitarian relief groups to support telemedicine and relief coordination.

"We have begun work with local hospitals helping coordinate remote physician consultations via video conference and we will continue to focus on providing additional support in this area," says Lew Jaffe, president and chief operating officer of PictureTel.