Cisco Systems is offering US companies free access to its WebEx collaboration service for one day on 19 June.

The company has opened the service to everyone as part of a promotion for national 'Dump the Pump Day' in which commuters are encouraged to avoid using petrol.

Cisco said that it hopes to persuade more people to telecommute or use public transport.

All companies will have the option of allowing employees to work from home and to conduct all meetings online rather than face to face.

In doing so, Cisco hopes to contribute to the effort to use less petrol and consequentially emit less carbon into the atmosphere.

The company also, of course, hopes to win over new customers to WebEx.

"We are helping to clean the air one meeting at a time," said Joe Schwartz, director of WebEx marketing operations at Cisco.

"By helping to reduce the need for travel, WebEx offers a great solution for commuters who want to do their part to reduce carbon emissions.

"We hope that commuters across the country will take advantage of travel alternatives on Dump the Pump Day."