Immersive virtual environments – such as Second Life and some enterprise-friendly alternatives – have traditionally required users to download special software and learn a difficult user interface. But several companies are working to change that, offering business-friendly virtual meeting platforms that work right in a Web browser, no software download required, with prices starting at around $50 a month.
Immersive virtual meeting environments allow participants to use avatars to walk around a virtual environment, and are useful tools for collaborating on and prototyping 3D designs, such as new products, buildings, or factories.
[Also see: Enterprises get new guidance on PCI compliance in virtual environments]