Cisco Systems Inc. is about to launch a virtual world to "enable its 40,000 global channel partners to meet and exchange information with application providers and device manufacturers". Called the Industry Solutions Partner Network (ISPN), it allows visitors to move through trade show halls, booths, a meeting hall and a lounge. Several companies have already signed on to create presences there, and more are on the way.
While the Cisco ISPN is reasonably sophisticated, several features that Second Life users have come to expect were removed for simplicity's sake. Avatars are automatically generated without the laborious need to tweek and adjust them, users can't accidentally fly away with the press of a button and have to take five minutes trying to work out how to get back, and there's no need to download a separate client. It's just click, log in and go.
This stripped-down philosophy enables people to just get in and start communicating with each other. Communication is text-only for now, but Cisco plans to allow voice communication between ISPN participants through WebEx and Skype. The world was developed in just three months, but a "significant infrastructure" has been set aside to expand things even further in the future.
For now, however, the primary purpose of ISPN is to allow channel partners to gain a greater understanding of the applications Cisco is developing and be able to sell them more effectively to customers. Around 30 independent software vendors have presences there now, including Salesforce.com Inc.; QM Group Ltd., and Nomadix Inc.. Cisco's Solution Incentive Program already provides product discounts to channel partners when they collaborate with developers on new software applications, and ISPN will be a great communications tool to help these partners find each other.
(via Computerworld)
Sounds really fascinating. I'd love to see some video of the virtual world, or get a chance to take a peek myself.
Imagine if the US government started using virtual platforms for their Calls for Proposals and procurement practices? The DARPA CFP regarding gaming and education would be a perfect place to experiment with something like this. See http://www.rikomatic.com/blog/2007/05/us_military_int.html . That would be eating the dogfood that you are selling.