I met with Cisco’s Jim Greene via their virtual conference capability this morning, and was blown away at how the capability has evolved. While I initially didn’t see the impact (I suppose I’ve trained myself to be highly skeptical of any new technology in order to propel myself ahead with “so what” questions) with the crystal-clear wall-to-wall monitors and sound I felt as if I could reach over to grab a water bottle from “the other side” of the wall-mounted LCD panels and it indeed felt like the manifestation of a virtual meeting. Our conversation was focused on the future of financial services and how growth in convenient and secure services will help bankers’ bottom lines, all through more pipes such as mobile or online. There are generally three kinds of customers for whom physical presence matters today: laggards, those with an unusual one-time event, and high-value customers such as business users or high net worth individuals. Imagine bank services offered via modern teleconference in a local branch, where consumers can get investment advice, assistance with a new account, or simple guidance as they venture into the online or mobile world for the first time, all with the help of a customer agent that is uniquely trained to solve each particular problem. This could take customer relationships to the next level, while leaving many of the costs behind.