Big-Bit Australia, which bills itself as a "virtual properties full service solutions provider," has announced that Wusic, its Internet-to-phone service, will now enable users of virtual worlds to make phone calls from within virtual worlds and business networks. The service is also designed to enable promotional and advertising campaigns to reach these consumers cia a click-to-call service.

Users within virtual worlds can also connect calls to those currently not logged in. It extends the communication capabilities for virtual world users, to be sure, but reading between the lines, Big-Bit makes it sound almost like the network will enable in-world telemarketing. On the flip side, it could also provide a way for users of business virtual worlds to connect with their colleagues, or to enable a real voice presence in in-world stores, sales or tech support desks. The Wusic network already connects globally with its system for initiating calls and tracking billing records.

Big-Bit offers strategic advice, construction, marketing, public relations and events services to companies seeking to establish footholds in virtual worlds such as Second Life and other newly emerging worlds. Wusic's newly released APIs allow interconnectivity with social networks like Generation Q and Facebook, and are now extending their capabilities into full-scale 3D online worlds.

Specifically, the company says virtual worlds companies already established "will be able to receive voice calls and covert leads which would otherwise have been lost if not for the ability to speak to a sales or service representative."