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It's Time to Try Videoconferencing

Thanks to videoconferencing, attorneys Fred Parnon and George Pratt have become "virtual" partners in Parnon's office. Two years ago, Parnon set up a videoconferencing system between his New York City office and Pratt's suburban home, so that Pratt could avoid the long commute into the city. The partners keep the system on all the time. "It's as if we're in the same office with our desks touching," says Parnon. "I miss him when it's turned off." The technology "lets us see each other's face and hand gestures, which gives us much better communication than we would have just talking on the phone," says Parnon.

More and more small business CEOs are using this increasingly affordable and available business tool. Apart from reducing travel, videoconferencing systems have other useful features. For example, using a function called a shared whiteboard, participants at great distances can work on the same document at the same time, or see the results instantly in their computer screens.

While videoconferencing is not yet as quick and easy as a telephone call, analysts say the day is coming. So along with your cellphone, e-mail address, and fax number, you might also need to put your videoconferencing station number on your business card.

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