Next Tuesday, May 15, Cisco Systems is hosting one of my VARBusiness Channel 2.0 town halls, where I will discuss the evolution of channel technologies and business over the next five years. I've had this discussion a few times at live events and conference calls; the only difference is this meeting will be in an online, 3D world.

Who needs a Second Life? Doesn't the idea of creating a digital persona who can fly through a 3D-like video game to virtual locales that are reminiscent of early Web sites and chat rooms seem a little silly for adults -- particularly IT professional and technologists?

At first blush, I thought so. But then you have to look at what's happening in Second Life. It's very much like the early Internet: not much content, a lot of enthusiast sites and very few active users.

Yet, I'm finding Second Life is an adventure in new media and interpersonal communications. For months, I've been talking about Channel 2.0 -- the evolution of the channel over the next five years. I've spoken with a lot of people about their future routes to market, how they will generate leads and find new customers, how they will forge new partnerships and where they will get their information. Second Life may become a vehicle for getting to market with new solutions and partnerships.

Originally intended as a social networking tool, Second Life is quickly evolving into an alternate communications channel. A handful of ambitious vendors, including IBM, Cisco, Sun and AMD, have built elaborate Second Life islands for meeting with internal teams, training solution providers and partners and pitching customers. (Check out this slide show to see what they're doing.)

Vendors leading the charge into Second Life say this is very different from the conventional conference call, Web site or Webex meeting. Participants can interact with the presentation and each other in real time. It's not uncommon for people attending Second Life events to spin off into a private meeting to discuss mutual challenges, exchange ideas and forge partnerships.

Second Life might even be one answer to the hectic business traveler's overpacked schedule. Think about the time and expense of traveling to conferences -- too much. Think about the flat nature of many Webex presentations -- too dull. Think about the lack of access to teleconferencing -- too little. Second Life is free, relatively easy to use (once you get the hang of it) and versatile.

Not everyone is sold on Second Life. Quite honestly, neither am I. Yet, thousands of people and businesses are gravitating to this medium every day. Millions of dollars are changing hands in Second Life every month. And more companies are investing heavily in Second Life. Just recently, IBM CEO Sam Palmisano told a British magazine that people shouldn't "get hung up on how frivolous some of its initial uses may seem," and that Second Life represents "the next phase of the Internet's evolution."

Some may think this silly, but you should check it out and see what Second Life can do. I invite all solution providers to join me for my Channel 2.0 town hall at the Cisco Virtual Campus' Bandwidth Amphitheater on May 15 at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

For those already registered on Second Life, just click here to be teleported to the event. For those new to Second Life, go to www.secondlife.com to register and download the client software.

Those who attend may get a special treat from Cisco, too. Stay tuned.

I look forward to virtually seeing you in Second Life.

What do you think about Second Life? Do you think it's a viable medium for interacting with vendors and other solution providers? Can you see yourself doing business in Second Life? Share your thoughts with me.

Also, check out some of our recent coverage of Second Life on ChannelWeb.com: