Microsoft to use PS3 Home for meetings
In a ironic twist of fate, one of the companies that might be testing out the PS3 Home is Microsoft. There is a project in progress with the goal of researching the viability of using the PS3 Home for holding business meetings in a virtual world in order to save time and money.
As it turns out the PS3 Home is considered to be one of the most advanced virtual environments out there. Business users can communicate via a variety of methods: Bluetooth headset, keyboard and USB headset. Users would also be able to design and develop the virtual office to meet the specific criteria of the business needs.
The PS3 Home also has multimedia capabilities that could be leveraged for business presentations such as slideshows, videos and audio sound bytes. Instead of investing in specific computer equipment and software, the only thing business users would require is a PS3 and Ethernet jack.
Apparently, Ernst & Young, a financial institute, will be the first company to test out the PS3 Home for virtual meetings. The project is headed up by Portsmouth University in an effort to cut costs and reduce travel time for corporate meetings.
Other companies participating in the project include Merrill Lynch and PS3 competitor, Microsoft. This indicates that Microsoft could potentially make some significant contributions to the success of the project.
However, such instances are not unheard of as most large businesses eventually interact with each other in one way or another. Sony manufactures PCs and laptops with Microsoft Windows. Microsoft also supports Blu-ray drives in Windows.
If the project is successful, it makes one wonder if we will see Microsoft offices crawling with PS3s. Who knows what the future holds? My company could take away my phone and hand me a PS3 instead. Wouldn’t that be something?
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16 Responses to “Microsoft to use PS3 Home for meetings”
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December 31st, 2008
ahhhhh.. the student has become the master….
December 31st, 2008
Like you say Mike, Sony and MS have a close relationship with VAIO’s, Windows and Windows Mobile.
I think it’s just the Xbox and Playstation divisions that hate each other.
January 1st, 2009
My boss likes holding conference calls with Skype. Cheap bastard.
January 1st, 2009
Once again we have a sensational, but rather inaccurate title, “Microsoft to use PS3 Home for meetings”. “Microsoft invests in business virtual environment study: PS3 Home an example” would be a little bit less misleading.
To be fair, Home is only “part of a project led by Dr Nipan Maniar and Manish Malik from Portsmouth University, which was commissioned by Advanced Workplace Associates and aims to explore how large companies can use virtual worlds to reduce costs on office space and travel, as well as their carbon footprints.”
http://www.gaapweb.com/news/1327-Ernst-Young-to-use-PS3-for-virtual-meetings.html
Home is software that does not necessarily have to be restricted to PS3 to run in a business environment. Number one, most businesses do not need a Blu-Ray player, and number two, most businesses do not need their employees trying to play games on their VETC (Virtual Environment Teleconference) machines.
Second Life is also a virtual environment software they will most likely be studying, and I am sure whoever is investing would want software without 5 year olds trying to assault them at every turn during the meeting.
The fact that Microsoft is investing in a study on virtual environment software for businesses (of which Home is just a small part) is not surprising, as they also produce business software.
It is a rather slippery slope to “Microsoft offices crawling with PS3s”.
January 1st, 2009
Nicely put, CarlB.
January 1st, 2009
But where would be the fun with accurate titles?
Sensationalism sells.
Especially when some (i.e. kev) get wound up by the sensational titles…
January 2nd, 2009
The fun for me is in being accurately informed instead of being misled, especially in a title.
Sensationalism does sell, but truth goes farther towards credibility.
I guess I would just prefer them to save sensational (though still accurate) titles for sensational news, not make up misleading and inaccurate titles for news in general.
January 2nd, 2009
Sony subsidise Microsoft.
Funny.
January 3rd, 2009
Wow isn’t that something… Xbox Live is near death free always wins especially when is the best. Microsoft is beginning to follow Sony like a little bitch LoL. Talk what you want but HOME still rulez. And Merryl Lynch has over 1 Trillion since own by Bank of America good for Sony and Microsoft soon Microsoft might release a copy of HOME for their Xbox Live service can’t wait to see what they come up with. Nah like i don’t already know COPYCATS. PS3#1
January 3rd, 2009
Ivan, how is your moustache coming along?
January 3rd, 2009
Great
January 3rd, 2009
Ivan,
“HOME still rulez”
see http://gamer.blorge.com/2009/01/02/console-usage-ps2-still-king-but-xbox-360-beating-wii-and-ps3/#comments and
“1. PS2 – 31.7% of minutes
2. Xbox 360 – 17.2%
3. Wii – 13.4%
4. Xbox – 9.7%
5. PS3 – 7.3%”
Yes, the PS2 is still on top… but you do see what is beating the PS3 by over two times as much usage… right?
Sorry, but I do not think XBox Live was ever designed for, or trying to compete in, the “business virtual environment” category. But if that is what you prefer, then by all means: “HOME still rulez”zzzz. MS might release a copy on Live if the PS3 goes under in order to make brainwashed Sony zombies feel at HOME. Since the PS3 is not going under anytime soon, it looks like you can still enjoy the wonders of HOME on your HOME console. And no matter what anybody may say about it, or whether it continues to remain in Beta, even with the mind boggling amount of people that use it daily just to have fun in that wonderful and joyous environment, there is still no place like HOME. Enjoy your trophies.
January 3rd, 2009
So what wtf Home still kicks ass stop bitching because is better then live.
January 4th, 2009
Ivan_PSP,
I am sorry, I seemed to have missed this part, but could you tell me exactly how “Home still kicks ass” when it comes to videogames?
January 5th, 2009
I’m going to find that Aaron Greenburg… and burst into the M$ meeting and tea bag him properly. Then I’ll do the running man dance back to my Summer House.
January 6th, 2009
Watch out, you might look like Steve Ballmer when you do it… SW wouldn’t like that. Not at all.