Vodafone calls into Second Life with InsideOut

This is something that’s been talked about for quite a while but now actually seems to be operating…Vodafone InsideOut.

The service links people in the real world and virtual world Second Life through their mobiles. It is an attempt to take communications across both worlds and link together people’s identities on and offline.

It works like this: your Second Life avatar gets a little handset called a Heads Up Display (HUD). From this, you can ring or text other avatars in the virtual world. If you are offline when your avatar receives a text, it will be sent as an SMS to your real-life mobile. You can also have your Second Life calls redirected to your real mobile if you so choose. If you need to track down a Second Life avatar, you can also call into the world direct from your real phone. Essentially, you need not separate the communications within and without the virtual world.

Anyone keen to find out more about this service or try it out should read the guide at Vodafone’s website.

Then you can be teleported over in Second Life to Vodafone’s special InsideOut island where your avatar can pick up the HUD package from a special vending machine. Apparently the service is free until the end of November 2007 (although using your real phone to call into the virtual world still costs money), so check it out now as charges are likely to be applied afterwards.

What do you think about this? Interesting or too complex? A valuable service or of limited appeal? Tell us your thoughts.