Rumors that Google may be making the move into a virtual world have been swirling for some time. The comparison between Google Earth and a fully-vested online world, or, at least, the potential for it to become one, has been made more than once. Now, students at Arizona State University are being offered the opportunity to test a new product "that will be publicly launched later this year" if they fill out a questionnaire -- the invitation page of which mentions "a major Internet company" and suggests the mysterious product is related to social networking, 3D modeling and video games.

Lots of signs here point to Google -- the project name is "My World," with a globe logo, and Google's Sketchup is its own 3D modeling software, after all. The questionnaire also asks if the respondents have a Gmail account, and if they'd be willing to get one if not. Additionally, the devotees at Google Operating System note that Google and ASU have a special relationship -- the university uses Google Apps, the site search is powered by Google Search Appliance, the university uses Google Maps and the campuses already have 3D models in... Google Earth. More than this, the university has provided photos for the Google Mars project, Google employees have been guest speakers at ASU, and Google has its own office on ASU's Tempe campus. Only ASU students can complete the questionnaire.

We already know Google is looking to outdo Facebook with an open social networking platform as soon as November -- if they're looking at these arenas as intently as they clearly are, a true virtual world would be the logical next step!

[Via TechCrunch]