Have you got the video-conferencing habit?

My local train operating company, Southern, has been heavily discounting its tickets over the last few months as long as you book tickets online - but the discount period is coming to an end. The aim, presumably, has been to get people used to the idea of booking online and, once they've got the habit, cut back on the discounts (and subsequently, the hapless booking office staff).

There'll be video-conferencing vendors in a similar boat. We've seen how VC has become the default standby during aviation's ash episode. Aren't they just hoping that users now get into the habit of talking over VC links rather than indulging in all that expensive flying?

But I'd be amazed if more than 10 percent stick with it. If you're selling, it's OK to VC when your plane's grounded: you can get away with that. But if I'm about to spend megabucks on a business-critical software installation, for example, I want those people to come and talk to me, in person.

You can't beat it...