Earthquake Workaround

By now, you've probably heard about the earthquake in Taiwan that damaged trans-Pacific communication lines. If you're just about anywhere in Asia, you've likely felt the negative effects of it yourself.

The unfortunate truth is that there is very little you can do about it. Ironically, as I'm typing this I'm unable to connect to any western news sources to cite and link to concerning the effects of the earthquake.

In the days immediately after, we recieved many support calls. Some lacked connectivity entirely, while others were unable to reach certain services like MSN messenger or Skype. I love using Skype, but am still unable to call the US using my Skype credit.

I've read conflicting reports (that I cannot connect to and link currently) about how long the repairs will take. From what I've read, it seems that the repairs will take three or more weeks. For many businesses, including ours, this is a destructively long time.

In the meantime, if you absolutely need a high-speed connection and have a notebook with wireless connectivity, you can get a reliable connection in certain places around Beijing. Large, well-known hotels (i.e. St. Regis or Kerry Center) are often safe bets for reliable connects, as well as the restaurants or cafes nearby. Be careful before you get everything set up... you may have to scout around before you find a really solid connection.

If you don't have a wireless card, please contact us right away, and we'll set you up with one and help you find a decent public internet connection as soon as possible.