I found a new tool in Second Life today - ChatBridge. Created by InterSection Unlimited, what this nifty service does is allow you to IM someone who is not in Second Life, and carry on a conversation with them, without them having to enter the virtual space. For those who do business in Second Life, this can be a powerful tool, melting part of the barrier between the real and virtual world.

Let's say you have a series of retail locations, but only want to have one FT customer service representative. By using ChatBridge, each location can have a direct line of communication with a CS rep, who doesn't even need to have a Second Life account. If you're a business person who needs to travel in real life, you can still speak with your contacts via your iPhone or Blackberry, while on the road. Very useful.

I have a ChatBridge enabled "phone" at one of my homes in Second Life. If you want to test it out, feel free to go there and give her a whirl. Simple click on the phone (it's by the door) and type your message into the chat window. If I'm online, I'll respond...