Canadian networking gear supplier Nortel on Thursday said it agreed to acquire 3D voice technology company DiamondWare for up to $10 million.
 
Toronto-based Nortel also announced that it is integrating DiamondWare's technology into web.alive, a new set of products that bring multiplayer, online game-type virtual world technology into collaborative business communications.

“To date 3D virtual reality technology has typically been used in online gaming or military applications, but there is no reason on earth why this should not be used in enterprise-centric environments,” Nortel CTO John Roese said.

Nortel said it has been developing 3D audio-visual virtual reality technology in an on-site incubation program for more than a year. Web.alive, which is scheduled for release later this year, will be the first product generated from that program.

Mesa, Arizona-based DiamondWare's technology gives VoIP a spatial element. For example, in a conference call a featured speaker's voice will be clearly heard by everyone, but two attendees can speak to each other in softer tones without the speaker or anyone else hearing them.

“This technology can be used in collaborative applications like customer service, conferencing, CRM, training, or education. But unlike the gaming world there will be elements like security that must be added,” Mr. Roese said.

Customers shopping at a retail web site can enter a virtual room where they can communicate with other shoppers or store employees in an audio-visual virtual reality community.

“Instead of having to type to them, you just talk,” Mr. Roese said. “You can even eavesdrop on a conversation someone else is having with a sales rep.”

Nortel plans to sell its virtual reality technology as both a hosted service in the initial stages and later as an on-premise corporate Intranet installation.

Nortel agreed to pay approximately $7 million in cash for DiamondWare, plus up to $3 million more to DiamondWare security holders, based on future achievements.

Source:redherring