Testers seem absolutely thrilled about this use of the VoIP technology:

SmartMeeting is a new conferencing and collaboration technology that immerses its participants in a 3D collaboration environment and allows them to discuss and hold meetings in front of a business table or a panoramic giant projection screen.

Each participant is represented by an avatar that he/she customizes before the meeting. Each avatar move lips as you talk live, and integrates visual expressions and body language movements even when one is silent. The meeting space is equipped with all kinds of presentation facilities including co-browsing, text chat, document sharing, multimedia player, RSS/XML live news ticker, PowerPoint presentation, whiteboard, screen capture, etc. The virtual meeting space is made up of multiple rooms, and participants can break up to work independently.

VoIP is fully integrated and active by default. Sound is in 3D too allowing you to hear sounds coming from the sides as people walk next to you, and disappearing altogether when people are too far away.

Price is $100/month for 5-user office, or $ 20/day for 20 persons max. To get an idea, you can try it for free during 30 days.

Check also Heike Philp report.

From Robin Good.