Guide
What is a virtual office?
A virtual office is a shared place in the browser where a team comes together even though everyone sits somewhere else. Instead of individual meetings there is one room that stays open and shows who is around.
The idea behind it
In a real office a lot of conversations happen on the side. You see that someone is at their desk, walk over and ask something. At home that falls away, because every question needs a call or a message, and both feel bigger than the occasion.
A virtual office recreates that closeness. Each person is a small avatar on a map. People who stand close to each other see and hear each other, people further away don't. So there is no meeting link, and nobody has to dial in on purpose.
On top of that come rooms like in a real office: a conference room for meetings, a focus room for undisturbed work and a lounge for everything in between.
How this differs from video calls and chat
Video call
A call has a start and an end and usually needs an appointment. The virtual office keeps running, and you step in when it suits you.
Team chat
Chat is perfect for everything that can wait. If something can't be settled in three sentences, a short conversation helps, and here it is a few steps away.
All-day call
Leaving a call open all day is tiring, because everyone hears everyone. In Agorium only the people standing close enough hear you.
Deciding
When a virtual office is worth it
- Your team works at least partly distributed and doesn't get much of each other's day.
- You have lots of short check-ins that are too long for chat and too much effort for a call.
- New colleagues need someone they can simply approach.
- Guests or clients should be able to drop by without creating an account.
When it isn't the right fit
Agorium isn't meant for performing in front of a large audience. Each person sends their video separately to everyone in the conversation, so groups of up to about eight people work well. Teams that rarely coordinate and only have fixed appointments usually get by with an ordinary video call.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need special hardware?
No. A current browser and a headset are enough. The camera is optional, and you can also just listen.
Does everyone have to be online all the time?
No. People who aren't in the space don't show up there, and messages in the channels wait until someone reads them.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. On a phone you get a tab bar, a joystick for walking and buttons for the most important actions.
See for yourself
A space takes a few clicks to set up, and the invitation link is ready right away.