A recent New York Times article describes the sale of Skype to Microsoft as one example of video conferencing hitting a critical mass with consumers and businesses. Other factors that are contributing to video conferencing’s popularity  are the proliferation of broadband and an increased use of desktop computers/mobile devices.

“As more and more people are telecommuting and not working in the same office — or state or country — there’s more of a need to find other ways to communicate,” the article states.

While video will never replace all in-person interactions, the time has come for it to be a serious alternative to travel.