IBM announced on Monday that it was expanding its business centre for India in Second Life, the virtual world in the Internet, by adding sales representatives based in the country.
The business centre is adding staff in India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea, with dedicated pavilions for China and Japan. this has been made possible through addition of a new island in the virtual world, a statement from the IT major said on Monday.
The business centre in Second Life would allow customers to visit IBM virtually and see products and solutions in 3D.
It also offers a platform for IBM sales people, clients and partners to meet, learn, collaborate and conduct business together virtually without the time and cost of travel.
"IBM India's presence in the Business Centre in Second Life is part of bringing us closer to our customers", said Sanjiv R Pande, Vice President, ibm.com, India/south Asia.
"Clients are increasingly looking for convenient ways of interacting with their suppliers. We have always been accessible through our convenient ways of interacting with their suppliers... We are now taking this accessibility to the next level", he said.
Staff from the US, Latin America, Europe, Australia, Singapore and Malaysia have been working at the business centre since early this year.
The Business Centre in Second Life has nine areas, including reception, client briefing centre and conference centre. It is staffed by 'avataars' of real IBM sales representatives from across the world who chat with visitors in several languages and build business relations.
If someone wants to buy hardware, software or services, the IBM 'sales avataar' would either help them or ensure that they are connected with the right expert inside or outside the Second Life, the statement said. However, signing contracts, paying or exchanging sensitive information would take place over telephone or through the Web.
"Social networking has exploded in popularity. People are used to meeting each other on-line for fun. We've applied that idea to the business world and added a third dimension", said Paula Sumna, general manager, ibm.com.
"Virtual world participation and social networking is skyrocketting in Asia. It is after all a top spot for 3D-gaming. Why not 3D-business too", she asked.
Second Life, developed by San Francisco-based Linden Lab, is one of the prominent virtual worlds available in the Internet. Since it was opened for the public in 2003, it's virtual islands have over eight million 'residents'(members) from across the globe.
IBM has more than 6,000 employees in the virtual Universe Community. Its employees also work in other virtual worlds like 'Active World' and 'There.com'.
According to industry analyst Gartner, by the end of 2011, 80 per cent of active internet users and Fortune 500 enterprises will be part of a virtual world.
