IBM teams with Kaneva and Linden Lab to expand virtual presence

by: Randy - posted: 10/11/2007 12:59:00 AM

At the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo in San Jose yesterday, IBM announced a couple power-moves its making to work itself ever deeper into virtual realities.  First, Kaneva is working the virtual 3D environment issue with Big Blue, blending social networking and entertainment.  Second, IBM and Linden Lab, creators of Second Life, announced a "collaboration to drive interoperability of virtual world platforms and assets."  (I don't have to know what it means, folks; I just have to report it to you out there.)  Look inside for improved articulation on these seemingly vague concepts.

Gartner forecasts that by 2011, 80 percent of active Internet users will have a virtual life in a virtual world. At the Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo in San Jose today, IBM made a series of announcements designed to drive this very growth and adoption of the 3D Internet.  

IBM's aim is to team with many companies and communities to build a 3D Net that is fit for business and society. Today IBM unveiled solutions for virtual worlds in the areas of technology infrastructure, open standards and interoperability:

• Kaneva takes Virtual World mainstream with IBM: IBM offers the optimal infrastructure to support the 3D environment.  Kaneva (www.kaneva.com), a rapidly growing digital world for the masses, has standardized on IBM servers to support consumers worldwide who want to blend social networking and entertainment in an immersive 3-D environment.  IBM System x servers will be key as Kaneva’s widespread appeal grows to accommodate millions of members with high computing performance and reliability, while keeping costs and power requirements down. See the full press release here: http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0313435.htm

• SecondLife, IBM open borders to virtual worlds: IBM and Linden Lab, the creators of Second Life, announced a collaboration to drive interoperability of virtual world platforms and assets.  Specifically, IBM and Linden Lab will work together on the integration of virtual worlds with the current Web; driving secure transactions of virtual goods and services; creating interoperability between various virtual worlds, and building more stability into virtual world platforms, all key issues facing organizations who want to take advantage of virtual worlds for commerce, collaboration, education and other business applications. See press release here: http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/22428.wss