My guess is that, within three years, the virtual office will no longer be regarded as just an experiment. It will be mainstream. Nolan concedes there will always be conventional offices, but he believes virtual offices will emerge as viable options for companies looking for a new solution to the old problem of worrying bottom lines. Not many specialists would disagree with Nolan's vision of the future, although some say that, to date, there has often been more talk than action. But there is no shortage of people who are trying to adapt to mobile or remote work.
High rents are only part of the story.
Employees are demonstrating an increasing desire to work where they want. And some employers are eager to have executives and salesmen on the road as much as possible. But the key to the changes are recent technological advances, which make it easier for workers to stay out of the office and still remain in touch. Mobile phones and pagers are becoming cheaper, smaller and more advanced. In other words, the future has arrived.