We all know about on-line virtual games that we can play stand-alone or with other users. Also, most of us know about those on-line virtual worlds where we can live another life. You can be someone totally different and live a life that you never could have otherwise. Millions of people have their avatar walking around, dancing, shopping and meeting new people in virtual worlds such as virtual-Vancouver.

That, of course, is just one aspect of a virtual world but there are other, more practical, uses. Virtual Conferences are making major changes in corporate thinking because they offer many advantages with few disadvantages. Cost is a major factor. Today, corporations can host virtual world-wide conferences at a fraction of normal hosting costs. No flights to pay for, hotels to book, employee’s time away from work, food/drink tabs, etc. The corporation pays for the delegate's avatar attendance (in some cases) at the conference. You, as the host or keynote speaker, can use text or audio to promote company business to your attendees. You can deliver your speech, hand out goodie bags, and answer questions, just like you would in real life. Whether you are a announcing a new product, providing an information session or an internal corporate meeting, the virtual world provides an attractive medium.

Advantages for the attendees are not having to travel and miscellaneous expenses. No matter what the employer or corporation pays for, employees usually still find it a drain on their pocket book. In the virtual world, you are on an even footing with all the other attendees, even the most shy among us. You are not expected to hang around after hours “making work connections.” However, if you want, you can stroll about the town in 3D, go to bars, dance clubs, share virtual drinks with a co-worker or even meet someone new. Set up a date for later on and go virtual dancing. Your avatar is you. Have some fun.

One of the larger Virtual-Worlds has over four million registered users. A conference or product announcement means access to an instant pool of four million potential customers plus new customers that you can attract via advertising.

These same Virtual-Worlds have even extended its reach into the government services sector. Some countries have adapted virtual software software to provide a virtual office where you can obtain the same services that you would normally have to get in person. Instead of several small offices in many communities, you can have one central office with employees answering virtual questions, providing virtual forms, filing virtual claims or nearly any other government service you may require. In these days of cost cutting, governments have moved to the virtual world to provide the same, possibly superior, services at much lower costs. Utherverse has an advantage over competitors with its 3D technology and has been the standard for Virtual Convention hosting for several years.

Other companies such as Real Estate firms have put the virtual world to work. Complete mock-ups of new developments are created so that prospective buyers can stroll through the neighbourhood and even enter the houses/condos to look around as they would in real life and all of this from the comfort of their own home. One Virtual-World company in Vancouver hosts over 80,000 commercial virtual worlds.

Many of the larger, progressive corporations are already hosting Virtual Conventions, attracting attendees from all over the globe. Whether it is a cost factor or a cool factor, Virtual Conventions are becoming the way of today.