CMP Technology announced that it has launched a metaverse services division. The division, which is being run out of the CMP Software Group, a sister publication to Worlds In Motion which includes Dr. Dobb's Journal, will offer project management, asset conceptualization and design, scripting and building. It'll also offer custom app development, multimedia engineering, virtual event production, proactive asset and audience management, and engagement metrics.

The company says it plans to use its various brands to attract global audiences to the builds and events that this new metaverse division will be creating for its customers. It's part of a larger CMP initiative to expand into Second Life, following the April launch of its Dr. Dobb's Journal's Life 2.0 Spring Summit event.

The next Life 2.0 event, to be held September 15-21, 2007, will focus on the "Opensource Grid" and will feature keynotes and panels from metaverse players. Currently, Dr. Dobb's Island is hosting discussion groups held Tuesday and Friday of each week focusing on technology, trends and business topics.

"By 2011, Gartner expects that 80 percent of Internet users will be participants in some quadrant of the 3D metaverse and CMP's goal is to lower the complexity barriers, cost and risk of metaverse engagement so businesses of any scale can play profitably with these powerful tools," said John Jainschigg, CMP Software Group director of online technology and new business.