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Videoconferencing - business is booming! Gas prices or environmental concern?

What do Robert Downey Junior and videoconferencing have in common? Give up? Both were born in 1965 and are having their renaissance in 2008, a mere 43ish years after introduction to this world. Each has shown flashes of brilliance in years past, but 2008 is finally their year. Sure, Tropic Thunder and Ironman are no Batman, and videoconferencing isn’t Beijing, but believe after those two behomoths of the summer, RD Jr and videoconferencing are top notch right now.

Why videoconferencing? Why now?

The technology was actually introduced to the world way back in 1965 at the New York World’s Fair when AT&T unveiled the Picturephone. Needless to say, the quality wasn’t HD and at $160/month the unit was well out of the average consumer’s budget. Skip forward to 2008. Technology has advanced, business is globalizing, gas prices are rising, and the perfect storm of opportunity is finally here for videoconferencing, as companies and regular Joe’s alike look to cut travel costs and improve their carbon footprint at the same time.

Now that fuel prices are hitting corporate earnings, companies are finally making serious investment in buying – and actually using – videoconferencing systems like never before. Gone are the days of the lonely video system wasting away in the corner, while heavily traveled executives from afar munch bagels at the nearby conference table. Companies like Accenture have invested heavily in video conferencing systems at 13 locations and have intentions to increase these numbers dramatically in coming years, and if recent earnings reports by video system manufacturers like Cisco and Polycom are any indication, the future of videoconferencing is bright.

What if you’re not the boardroom type? How can video conferencing be utilized outside of business travel? Let's say you’re a college student. Just use your webcam and a free video application like AIM video chat or Skype and show mom that you really are keeping your dorm room clean and recycling even if you are four hours away!

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