Amphisocial launches the first virtual world product with Google apps integration. Virtual world technology is based on realXtend open source platform, to be followed by support for SUN Wonderland and Sirikata.
17th September, 2009. Amphisocial
launches today a new realXtend-based virtual world collaboration
services. The services can be used for Team collaboration, Training
& education and Trade shows & marketing.
For distributed working teams, the virtual world technology
gives the feeling of being together in a way that is not possible
with any other technology today. This has the potential to save on
travel costs and save the planet while meeting virtually.
AmphiSocial's platform PIIVOT (Platform for Immersive
Interaction using Virtual Online Technology) technical highlights
include collaborative document editing, built in text-to-speech
support, 3D-spatial voice, video, whiteboard and application
sharing capabilities.
Technically the PIIVOT services are built on their own layer,
independent of the underlying virtual world platform. This gives
Amphisocial the freedom to use another virtual world platforms in
addition to realXtend. They have already support for SUN Wonderland
and Sirikata on their roadmaps. PIIVOT is also probably the first
virtual world product that integrates with Google apps.
The platform comes pre-built with a rich 3D content repository
like theater, presentation or training hall, conference room, open
terrace and a lobby for conducting meetings, seminars,
presentations etc in a very true-to-life social setting.
It is also possible to book free grids for events with PIIVOT
tools such as video sharing, 3-D voice and text chat, uploading
& downloading word documents and powerpoint presentations.
The pricing starts from around $45 per user per month for the
on-demand version of the service. For behind the firewall solutions
the price is negotiated case by case.
Maxping had the opportunity to interview Anu Mishra, one of the
founders of Amphisocial:
Jani: Why did you choose realXtend as
your first platform for implementation? What will be the next one
and do you plan to support Second Life or Opensim?
Anu: We looked at various aspects of the
world like 3-D rendering, ability to import meshes from Sketchup,
ability to create realistic avatars, lighting effects, ease of
customization (with wide range of python scripting capabilities).
When we finally rated all the worlds based on these features,
RealXtend, at the time we selected it, had the highest cumulative
score. With a unique combination of easy of use, a short learning
curve involved and its broad range of features, RealXtend was our
choice for PIIVOT. Opensim is on our roadmap for next release.
Jani: Is Amphisocial in direct competition with Second
Life and Qwaq, who also provide collaboration services and tools
for enterprises?
Anu: Our focus has been to build
collaborative processes around Google Apps and rendering it in a
3-D world of customer's choice. PIIVOT is a unique solution that is
a middle layer between virtual world platforms and Google Apps and
hence users with existing virtual world platforms like OpenSim,
Wonderland, Sirikata can also use PIIVOT. We leave the choice of
the platform to the customer. We have a repository of standard
collaborative applications on Google Apps and our intent is to make
them available on our virtual world. For example, Beer Distribution
Game is a technique used widely for supply chain management
training, Six thinking hats & nominal group techniques are
standard methods for brainstorming. We probably are in direct
competition with QWAQ but not SL since SL/OpenSim users can also
adopt PIIVOT (on our roadmap). I would like to add that with our
unique framework, users can reap the benefits of the much awaited
Google Wave when it is launched.
Maxping says...
realXtend seems to be taking off seriously. First hosting
providers and applications have arrived alongside with web sites
talking about realxtend. Still, Amphisocial is wisely keeping their
business objects separated from any one specific virtual world
platform. Maxping gives thumbs up to Amphisocial - may the ping be
with you!
snowcrashme