| The time is right for video and web conferencing to | | | | conferencing. |
| take off. While online conferencing is still seen as a | | | | The gains provided by online conferencing are more |
| technological novelty by some people, more and | | | | than just the money saved by not buying gasoline |
| more businesses of all sizes are finding it be the | | | | for a car or spending it on airfares. When you sit in |
| solution to doing business and communicating with | | | | your own office and hold an online conference with |
| prospects, clients, employees and branch offices in an | | | | associates in distant cities, you can get back to your |
| era of rising transport costs. Let's take a look at | | | | other work within seconds of the close of the online |
| some of the factors that are bringing web and video | | | | conference. The lost time out of office, associated |
| conferencing to a very wide audience. | | | | with business trips, is an important "opportunity cost" |
| 1. Bandwidth speeds are increasing while prices for | | | | that can be reduced by the creative use of web and |
| broadband web access are falling. | | | | video conferences. |
| Video and web conferencing are more effective | | | | 5. The cost of web and video conferencing has come |
| when users have broadband access to the Internet. | | | | down greatly in the past year. |
| Prices for various broadband connections to the | | | | Web and video conference services are now less |
| Internet (DSL, Cable, T1s) are falling and more and | | | | costly than they were a few years ago and it is |
| more homes and businesses are now connected by | | | | possible for a business to get a much higher return |
| broadband rather than dial-up connections. Broadband | | | | on their investment in online conferences. Monthly |
| penetration in the US among home users has reached | | | | costs for some conferencing services are so low that |
| 60% and, especially crucial for online conferencing, in | | | | even families and individuals can connect in informal |
| the workplace broadband usage has passed 85%. | | | | web conferences. At the same time, for a |
| 2. Web cameras are more powerful and less costly. | | | | reasonable price, businesses can even purchase their |
| Video conferencing is aided by good images. Just as | | | | own internal video/web conferencing system and not |
| high speed connections to the Internet are needed | | | | depend on web conference services provided by an |
| to view the videos, improved cameras providing clear | | | | outside provider. |
| images are also important. The least expensive web | | | | 6. Schools and universities are holding online classes, |
| cameras today cost as little as $10 and even | | | | exposing a whole new generation to the world of |
| sophisticated tripod-mounted cameras are reasonably | | | | online conferencing. |
| priced, placing video conferencing within the reach of | | | | The surest way of spreading any new technology is |
| millions of users. | | | | to get young people "hooked" on it. And that is |
| 3. The price of oil and transportation is rising, and | | | | exactly what schools and universities are doing with |
| business travel is more costly. | | | | web and video conferencing. By holding more online |
| Rising energy prices means that businesses have to | | | | classes and conferences, young people are becoming |
| scrutinize their travel plans more closely. Video and | | | | comfortable with this way of communicating. As |
| web conferencing make it possible to hold meetings | | | | today's students enter the business and professional |
| with staff in other cities without making expensive | | | | world, they are certain to bring with them a taste for |
| car or airplane journeys. In addition, some companies | | | | the convenience of online conferencing. |
| are also using web and video conferencing to meet | | | | Add up all these factors and it is easy to see why |
| new clients and provide service to existing clients. | | | | web and video conferencing are approaching the level |
| Improved video conferencing capabilities, combined | | | | of mass acceptance. If you are not taking advantage |
| with rising travel costs is a sure formula for online | | | | of online conferencing today, there is a good chance |
| conferencing growth in the years ahead. | | | | that you will be tomorrow. |
| 4. Businesses are improving productivity with online | | | | |