Activeworlds, Inc., a leading provider of virtual world technology on the Internet, today announced the availability of the “Active Worlds 3D Avatar and World Explorer” application, built on Facebook Platform, a platform that enables companies and developers to build applications for the Facebook Web site. This Facebook application uses Version 1.0 of the Active Worlds Embedded Virtual World control, providing a dramatic step forward towards interoperability of its 3D browser by bringing the online 3D experience to an entirely new level of accessibility.

The Embedded Virtual World technology utilizes the functionality of Internet Explorer and ActiveX from Microsoft both of which are present on the majority of personal computers. Tapping into existing standards, Activeworlds provides a tool that is much in demand by Webmasters and developers wishing to have a virtual world experience on their existing sites, but want to control their own servers and economy. The control also allows for distribution of the key elements of the Virtual World platform through standard Web pages and Web 2.0 community sites leveraging their existing infrastructures.

The Embedded Virtual World control is available today for Web and application developers to download free at Activeworlds Web site.

“Activeworlds is committed to providing a cutting edge platform that works within the framework of existing standards for Internet technologies. This new release makes 3D Internet solutions available now to the Web 2.0 community,” says Activeworlds CEO, Rick Noll. “There are tens of thousands of worlds on the Internet and now anyone with an Active Worlds can embed the experience directly in their Web page. We are building towards a future where virtual world sites will be mainstream and realistically implemented.”

“Integrating the Embedded Virtual World control was trivially easy,” said Robert Frederick, the developer of the Active Worlds Facebook application. “I saw a huge opportunity to bridge the social aspects of Facebook with the real- time interactivity and building components of the Active Worlds platform. For the first time, millions of Facebook users that install the app, http://apps.facebook.com/activeworlds, can interact and chat with each other, explore sweeping 3D landscapes and environments, and build their own virtual structures for others to enjoy.”

“Since our Active Worlds technology continues to be standards driven, we feel this release sets a new milestone on 3D Internet implementation,” said JP McCormick, chairman of Activeworlds, “The push is on for interoperability and a set of standards which will drive Virtual World technology into the future. We believe that many of these already exist. By continuing to enhance our already standards driven application we greatly increase our value to e- commerce, education, entertainment, and social networking sites, as well as our core business with Fortune 500 companies.”

One of the companies currently utilizing Active Worlds-embedded with Facebook, is IBM (NYSE:IBM) . IBM has developed a robust “intraverse” powered by Active Worlds that sits behind IBM’s firewall. This allows employees a secure, confidential channel to collaborate, explore and extend the use of the 3D Internet and virtual environments with fellow employees and customers.

“IBM believes virtual worlds can be applied to limitless issues and opportunities in every industry, said Sandy Kearney, IBM Global Director 3D Internet and v-Business. “We are utilizing the Active Worlds platform because it provides IBM with a secure and very flexibile way to address the use of virtual worlds by our employees and our customers.

Tags: virtual world, avatar, facebook