Applications and Tools, Second Life

Second Life Prepping for New IM and Communication Tools

Tateru at Massively reports that Second Life may be headed for simpler, slimmer and more useful chat application based on a recent trademark application for a service called “SLin”:


IC 038. US 100 101 104. G & S: Electronic and digital transmission of voice, data, images, signals, and messages; e-mail and instant messaging services; communications by computer terminals; electronic exchange of voice, data, and graphics accessible via computer, mobile, wireless, and telecommunication networks; voice over IP (VoIP) services; video and audio conferencing services conducted via the Internet, telephone, and mobile devices

According to Tateru:

Considering that there doesn’t seem to be any other plausible explanation for the SLim trademark, we’re going to go with the safe bet that Linden Lab has a new standalone instant messaging client or a gateway service that can be used by third-parties on the horizon.

Linden executives said they would have a huge announcement coming up before the end of the year that didn’t involve the release of simulator code, inter-grid teleportation, a sale or an IPO.

I’m going to disagree with Tateru however: I’m betting it’s more than IM, it’s a total rebuild of all of the interfaces for accessing the world.

My bet: a new model for the viewer involving a main viewer totally rebuilt, including ‘plug-in’ options much like Firefox so that it can be scaled down or up depending on use models, and the ability to “tear-off” applications such as chat or scripting so they can run as desktop applications (think an AJAX or AIR Second Life), an API for phone-based viewers, a browser-based API, all of it linked in to a new “social networking” platform - think SL Facebook.

Other bets?

Update: Check out Vint’s gorgeous graphic and check her post:

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