US : Second Life, the 3D virtual world platform created by Linden Lab, can now be accessed from mobile devices. For the first time, Residents can explore the entire virtual world from their handsets via a free beta application available at http://www.vollee.com/secondlife. The new service is powered by Vollee, the 3G streaming services provider, and anyone with a qualified 3G or Wi-Fi enabled handset can easily download a thin-client to their device and log-in using their existing Second Life accounts.

Vollee’s technology intelligently adapts the Second Life Grid (an inter-connected platform which extends beyond the mainland of Second Life) for use on 40 mobile handsets at launch. Support is planned soon for additional 3G and Wi-Fi enabled devices, including the iPhone.

“Vollee offers the perfect Second Life mobile service that brings our virtual world to handsets in a way that is ideal for connecting our Residents,” said Christopher Mahoney, Business Deveopment Manager, Linden Lab. “We look forward to the new and exciting ways people will be able to extend their Second Life experience through this new service.”

“We are very proud to debut the Vollee service with Second Life, one of the largest and most successful virtual worlds,” said Martin Dunsby, CEO, Vollee. “This application is just one example of how Vollee is capable of bringing persistent worlds, MMOs and graphically intensive PC applications to mobile in a way that works.”

Vollee’s proprietary solution is the only technology currently available that can stream high-end PC titles to mobile, including popular massively multiplayer online role playing games. The company’s VolleeX engine adapts applications for screen size and key layout, and then streams the original application to mobile devices. Vollee’s interactive video streaming platform optimizes compression to minimize bandwidth requirements and also leverages the 3G mobile networks in such a way that gamers can easily and smoothly navigate virtual worlds. Vollee’s technology is also extensible to fast paced, high quality video games previously impossible on mobile.

To download the free Second Life mobile application and view a complete list of supported handsets, please visit http://www.vollee.com/secondlife.