Make a phone call from a virtual world to the real world, or send an SMS message to a cell phone, using Avatalk. In what certainly feels like a strange case of mixed realities, you can speak to people from within Second Life using Avatalk terminals.
The one month virtual world pilot will start on 26 March allowing users to make 10 free calls (of up to one hour each) and send 10 SMS messages to almost anywhere in the world.
Users will be able to use their avatars to access the service at red BT phone boxes at five locations or by picking up a heads-up display that can then be used beyond these locations.
IBM meanwhile has inked a deal with Forterra to offer a unified collaboration platform for the OLIVE virtual world platform:
Officials pointed out that the integration between Forterra’s virtual collaboration applications with IBM Lotus Sametime software carries the potential to become the primary collaboration platform used throughout the intelligence community, and with other branches of the government.
Noting that the value of Unified Communications and Collaboration does not come from singular features like click-to-call, Bruce Morse, vice president at IBM Unified Communications and Collaboration, commented in a statement, “The true value of UC2 is realized when multiple collaboration capabilities are well integrated within a business task or process—like bringing several organizations together to share, review, approve and take immediate actions for national security.”
He explained that integration with the IBM Lotus Sametime Unified Telephony offering will allow any landline PBX, VoiP, or mobile phone caller to join a virtual meeting.
I wonder whether there’s operator assistance? “We have an avatar on the line calling from Svarga, do you accept the charge?”
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