When walks through a large international airport such as Amsterdam’s Schiphol for example, one has to really remind oneself that this really still is an airport. Shops filled with everything from attire to souvenirs to drinks to fresh food to electronics to whatever you can imagine are just as prevalent as the gates for the actual flights. Casinos, art exhibitions, and lounging areas help to kill time during layovers. Restaurants cater foods from as many countries as the airport is carrying destinations.

And besides being massive consumption and shopping temples, modern international airport also offer anything one might need to take care of business. Wireless access points are standard at today’s traveling platforms. Anyone with a PDA, handheld or notebook can instantly go online through their mobile device by establishing a wireless network connection. Most airports charge for this service, others (such as Vienna) still supply it for free. The tickets for airtime can usually be bought easily at any store or newsstand inside the airport.

For all those, who don’t bring their own access device, almost all major air travel hubs have entire business centers dedicated to all those, who need to be on their office while being far away from it. Such terminals usually include desktop usage, printers, faxes and much more. It is not in the least bit unrealistic to close a major business deal through a video-conference-call while waiting for the next flight.

But there is also one big disadvantage in the presence of access to the web and thus to one’s work-life from anywhere: people will be expected to WORK wherever they go. Now that is an aspect of the technological progress many traveling business people don’t find so enchanting at all.