While companies like RocketOn and Weblin are layering avatars on top of the Web browser, Club Cooee is doing something similar for the desktop. The German startup has just pushed its system to a private beta, but TechCrunch had an early look yesterday. Club Cooee provides a 3D chat environment with customizable avatars and environments, but instead of being inside of a client or browser, it's simply layered on to the desktop (Windows-only for now, though Mac support is reportedly on the way).
Tech Crunch compares Club Cooee to a variety of virtual worlds, from Second Life to Lively to IMVU, but I'd say the closest analog is in the worlds that are layered on to the Web browser. It's not the same, but I find the similarities compelling.
Most importantly, it seems like Club Cooee, like RocketOn and Weblin, encourage the user to look at the website or desktop as the context for their interaction instead of just the virtual world-esque environment that's built for them. With the ability to share links and photos, listen to music together, and watch video, the desktop seems like a fitting background.
Of course, as TechCrunch points out that can get a little complicated if you're clicking around the environment and accidentally tag a file or two.
Club Cooee will monetize through selling virtual goods to customize avatars and rooms and through B2B partners rather than traditional advertising.
It's also worth noting that Club Cooee looks pretty good, especially with a download at about 2.5mb (compare to Lively's download of about 10mb). It's not a plugin for a browser, but that puts it into widget size, so I'll be interested to see how people adopt it.
Founders and seed investors Alexander Jorias and Ingo Frick annouced an investment from Aurelia Private Equity in April.
TechCrunch still has some beta invites, so head there to check it out. [via TechCrunch]
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