Nortel is gambling on a new product called Web Alive to boost business.
Web Alive is a three-dimensional website for meetings. It also functions as a tool for consumers to ask questions on an e-commerce website.
"We've had all kinds of people in to test the technology and while some may be hesitant before they quickly find it's a natural kind of process and are quite enthusiastic," said Arn Hyndman, the chief architect for Web Alive.
On Thursday, Nortel said Web Alive is almost ready for market. The three-d concept was developed in Nortel's Ottawa labs.
It looks much like Second Life, a hugely successful site which allows people to create online characters who can live a second life on the web.
"Second Life creates a fantasy life a place to escape the real world," said Hyndman. "What we are doing is helping people to communicate in the real world."
Nortel is in need of some business success stories. Earlier this year, the Chief Technology Officer said they had created a $40 million incubation fund to help good ideas, like Web Alive, get to market faster.
He says the site is very cool but is cool enough to sell the concept.
Users say the Web Alive concept needs to be both cool and easy to use in order to sell.
"It has to work for our mothers and grandmothers and for business people it will become like the other tools they use like Internet Explorer and email so they will be able to handle it," said Chris Lynk, a software developer who specializes in making programs that people can easily use.
This is the first product to come out of Nortel's Incubation program. This is not your average Nortel product. The company said it wanted to think outside the box.
The question remains: Are buyers ready to get involved?
With a report from CTV's Paul Brent
