The main difference from older products is price (and probably availability too). At a price of a plane ticket, it becomes more attractive - if it can reasonably simulate an in-person meeting, which is yet to be determined.

I don't think it will replace sales calls just yet, but it's a step forward.

Edit: AnyBots is U$ 15.000, so this is an order of magnitude cheaper.

And I found on Google TILR at U$ 10.000 http://robodynamics.com/products/

Plus, I found a hack of an iRobot that claims to give you a similar device for U$ 500 :)

http://www.fastcompany.com/1726174/500-irobot-hack-lets-you-...