Video is in the green.

In the first few years that I covered video conferencing - with precious few willing to believe it was getting hot - the technology was being sold primarily on the virtues of collaboration. And for some, novelty. After all, gas was not $4, people were still giddy about how cheap their latest flight was across the country and Green was still for Norther Californians only. Not anymore.

Ironically there was a time when we thought video would be the answer to air travel costs and in fact during its first wave in the late 90's, that is exactly how it was sold. Go to the CFO and show 'em how to cut travel costs. Now, 10 years later and with a much clearer picture on screen, we find ourselves in the same place. Kind of. Video - now believably good in quality - is being sold (or shall I say bought now that the inbound demand tap has opened) on the merits of being green, and saving travel costs. A salesperson dream come true: an emotional itch (green) and something for the CFO.

You've come a long way, video.

note: Andy Abramson over at VoIPWatch has an informative - and convincing - post on this this week.