Take for example, a 2005 Hewlett Packard study that found the most common drawbacks to videoconferencing were technical: it often requires too much planning, it’s too complicated and there are too few videoconferencing rooms in which to hold a meeting. Additionally, aside from most Macs, and newer PC systems, client machines require the addition and setup of a third-party camera.

The fact that all computer users multitask is perhaps the most important reason that videoconferencing, particularly desktop-based videoconferencing, is not a more popular form of communication. When people are in an online meeting or attending a webinar, they often check their e-mail, send instant messages, or perform other tasks that would otherwise divert their eyes from a camera. People want to multitask during online meetings and webcasts and they don’t want others seeing them doing it.

Along with technical issues and multitasking, videoconferencing hasn’t become part of the company culture for most organizations. The support and encouragement of management will largely determine the success of videoconferencing in an organization.

Video conferencing should and will eventually be more common place. It can replace business travel and provides a very good method for continuous communication between remote development teams.