When virtual worlds collide, what will happen? With Second Life's Linden Labs and IBM trying to do just that, we're about to find out. Both companies are now trying to find ways to let a single online persona access different online games and services, thus breaking virtual barriers. "It's going to happen anyway," said IBM's digital convergence vice president Colin Parris.

One of the things that would happen, according to Linden Labs, is that the more exciting virtual worlds will gain many immigrants and users, while "dull" worlds will lose most of their clients. Certainly an interesting prospect, and will force online gaming developers not to slack off and do their best in improving gaming experience.

Both IBM and Linden have discussed the industry standards expected from implementation of "open virtual world borders" in a recent virtual worlds conference located in San Jose, California.

It's no secret that the next big thing our little civilization will bear witness to is the proliferation of virtual worlds. Even this early, people spend valuable hours of their lives and immerse themselves in the fantasy and awe these places offer. Real life giant conglomerates likewise know this well, so they try to jump in the wagon through in-game advertisements and other marketing strategies.

Given all of these, people also understand that virtual worlds are relatively new and there are some aspects of it that are still quite not fully understood. This is the very same reason why Virtual World Management recently announced the first annual Virtual Worlds Conference. The event will take place at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City from March 28 to 29.

According to the event's executive director, Christopher Sherman, the conference aims to provide attendees with focused, practical and valuable industry insights that can be immediately utilized in developing a virtual world strategy. He exclaimed:

Virtual Worlds 2007 is a social networking paradise, bringing together for the first time all the knowledgeable experts in virtual worlds, giving attendees ample opportunity to learn the latest techniques and technologies and build relationships with peers and industry leaders.

While the organizers are focusing on inviting companies that consider delving in the virtual worlds arena, anyone can actually attend the conference. However, the registration fee is quite big for ordinary people such as us QJ folks: US$ 595. If you're interested, the Read link below leads you to the event's registration page.