Tablets take videoconferencing to next level

In an economy where businesses are doing whatever they can to reduce operational costs, one area that often finds itself on the chopping block is travel. As a result, videoconferencing has emerged as a real solution to keep business colleagues and partners in touch with one another without shelling out for costly travel expenses.

According to a February 2012 study from research firm IDC, the enterprise videoconferencing market saw an extremely strong fourth quarter in 2011, with revenue growing 19 percent from the previous quarter. Year over year, videoconferencing market revenue grew 20.5 percent in 2011, reaching $2.7 billion, IDC says.

As videoconferencing continues to expand, businesses are finding tablet computers to be helpful tools to complement the practice. Many tablets come equipped with a front-facing camera -- or one can be added as an accessory -- making face-to-face meetings from hundreds of miles apart a simple task.

Videoconferencing is just one of the communication applications that tablet computers support. Instant messaging and checking email are also popular tablet activities among business users, and the applications are likely to expand as tablet adoption continues to grow.