I’m not sure if Vincent will have time to visit online world Second Life while at MWC – there’s so much to see that just getting round the real-world is practically impossible! – but NEC are offering mobile access to the service as a demonstration of their SCI Platform, made up of IP voice and multimedia services.  Users accessing Second Life via one of NEC’s handsets will be represented by a so-called “NEC Communicator” (currently based at Tokutoku Pocket Island, Second Life fans!) and will be able to communicate by voice, SMS and email.

Of course, this isn’t just an excuse to get journalists gaming.  NEC are hoping that the package will demonstrate its concept of “real world gateways”.  Described by the company as “taking critical ‘virtual to real world’ interface roles in terms of ubiquitous communication, payment, media distribution and context distribution”, it sounds like a complicated way of demonstrating NEC’s offerings in VoIP and messaging.  However, I know there will be people interested to hear whether a new Second Life mobile interface is on the cards.