• Video conferencing comes with some drawbacks.conference image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com
  
  There are many reasons to engage in a video conference. Video conferencing allows people to work from home, make international business deals, collaborate with others and keep up with family and friends. Even though there are benefits to using this technology, there are also some drawbacks.
  
  

It's Impersonal

• For some, video conferencing can’t replace the benefits of face-to-face contact. When meeting with someone over video, you can’t shake hands, make proper eye contact or fully observe body language. This can be a turn-off for people who are used to more personal forms of communication.
  
  

Learning Curve

• Every new technology has a learning curve. Learning how to use and implement video conferencing hardware and software can be cumbersome. It can also be expensive if you need to hire an outside party to install the equipment and provide training. It can also be frustrating if you experience delays in your conference because of technical difficulties. If a business is working with a new client or trying to close a deal, this type of delay can seem unprofessional.
  
  

Network Difficulties

• Depending on the equipment and network connection, users can experience quality issues. For instance, sometimes people can appear pixilated or there can be lighting issues which make it hard to see the other party. There can also be sound-quality issues. These types of problems can make a video conference seem like a very unattractive option.
  
  

Expense

• Depending on your needs, video conferencing hardware and software can be expensive. In general, the more features that are offered, the more expensive it will be. If you need to have a video conference for personal reasons, then you may be able to find less expensive options such as free web conferencing software. However, business users may find that the less-expensive options don’t suit their needs.