Microsoft using Home for meetings

Microsoft has signed up to use PlayStation's Home to conduct online virtual meetings.

The idea was commissioned by Advanced Workplace Associates (AWA) with the aim of finding out if virtual conferencing can lower carbon emissions and reduce travelling costs for large companies.

AWA Managing Director Andrew Mawson described the idea as tapping into workforce mobility. "Increasingly we are living in a world without borders where workers need to collaborate on a global scale," he said.

"Audio and video-conferencing solutions have emerged but the use of virtual worlds may offer the next evolution in overcoming the tyranny of distance."

The Home beta was made available to the public on December 11, but has suffered numerous problems since its launch.