Chatting in 3d holiday environment

Euro Relais has launched Google Lively online on its Dutch language websites.

The holiday home provider has introduced the functionality on www.eurorelais.nl to expand its client service.

Google Lively is a 3d environment in which people can chat with each other live. Lively users have an avatar and a virtual room that they can then integrate in a blog, website or social network such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Hyves. Everyone with a Google account (for example Gmail) can create an avatar,  which can be used in every Lively room.

The environments can be customised, for example with wide-screen TVs playing Youtube clips. Friends can then be invited in for a chat and, for example, you can show them videos.

Euro Relais has created a 3d holiday environment on a tropical island where two easy chairs tempt you to sit down for an informal chat. Google Lively users can ask questions about all of the holiday homes and chat with Jenny Jansma, the Euro Relais sales avatar.

"We wanted to explore the possibilities immediately and to see whether 3d chatting could add to our existing service. The concept also fits in well with the progressive way in which Euro Relais presents itself on the Internet. This is the reason why we jumped on board straight away. Google Lively is a new application and is still in the early stages of development. The functionality will be perfected in the near future," said Hedwig Wassing, MD, Euro Relais.