Why Video & Web Conferencing Are Heading Towards Mass Acceptance

The time is right for video and web conferencing toconferencing.
take off. While online conferencing is still seen as aThe gains provided by online conferencing are more
technological novelty by some people, more andthan just the money saved by not buying gasoline
more businesses of all sizes are finding it be thefor a car or spending it on airfares. When you sit in
solution to doing business and communicating withyour own office and hold an online conference with
prospects, clients, employees and branch offices in anassociates in distant cities, you can get back to your
era of rising transport costs. Let's take a look atother work within seconds of the close of the online
some of the factors that are bringing web and videoconference. 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 forthat can be reduced by the creative use of web and
broadband web access are falling.video conferences.
Video and web conferencing are more effective5. 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 theWeb and video conference services are now less
Internet (DSL, Cable, T1s) are falling and more andcostly than they were a few years ago and it is
more homes and businesses are now connected bypossible for a business to get a much higher return
broadband rather than dial-up connections. Broadbandon their investment in online conferences. Monthly
penetration in the US among home users has reachedcosts for some conferencing services are so low that
60% and, especially crucial for online conferencing, ineven 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 asown internal video/web conferencing system and not
high speed connections to the Internet are neededdepend on web conference services provided by an
to view the videos, improved cameras providing clearoutside provider.
images are also important. The least expensive web6. Schools and universities are holding online classes,
cameras today cost as little as $10 and evenexposing a whole new generation to the world of
sophisticated tripod-mounted cameras are reasonablyonline conferencing.
priced, placing video conferencing within the reach ofThe 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, andexactly 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 toclasses and conferences, young people are becoming
scrutinize their travel plans more closely. Video andcomfortable with this way of communicating. As
web conferencing make it possible to hold meetingstoday's students enter the business and professional
with staff in other cities without making expensiveworld, they are certain to bring with them a taste for
car or airplane journeys. In addition, some companiesthe convenience of online conferencing.
are also using web and video conferencing to meetAdd 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, combinedof mass acceptance. If you are not taking advantage
with rising travel costs is a sure formula for onlineof 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