Are there going to be offices in the future?

VPN, VOIP, IM, Virtual Desktop, Video Conferencing

[monkeythumpa]

My boss is working from home and I didn't realize it until lunchtime!

I only have to be in the office for meetings and interviews, that is only about two days a week.

[pmkpmk]

What about meetings around the coffee machine, ad-hoc meetings in the corridors, information exchange during lunchbreak?

There's more to a functioning company than just memos and emails...

[iamlost]

If "virtual" was sufficient there would be no value/interest in Pubcon for WebmasterWorld members.

Think for a moment of the depth of your business and/or personal relationship with someone you knew only on-line then the difference (for better or worse) after meeting "in person". There is always a difference.

Why is "networking" and "pressing-the-flesh" such a constant business requirement?

Offices fulfil a need.

I do most of my work from a home office - still an office - where I can separate my "work-life" from my "home-life". Yet actually going and meeting with clients or subcontractors is an expense I am exceedingly willing to pay each and every project. Virtual is still not real enough.

Cubicles on the other hand have no redeeming value.