Rumours are circulating that Google is in the process of testing a virtual world based on Google Earth.In a Google Operating System blog, Ionut Alex Chitu said that students at Arizona State University (ASU) currently have the opportunity to test a new product "that will be publicly launched later this year" by a "major internet company".
According to Mr Chitu, the invitation page also includes hints that the application is related to social networking, video games and 3D modelling.
Speculation that the application is the work of Google arose because students testing the product are asked whether they have a Gmail account and whether they would be willing to get one.
The product's name is My World and the logo shows a globe - a possible sign that it could be related to Google Earth.
Mr Chitu goes on to say that Google also has 3D modelling software "that could be used to make avatars".
He added: "ASU has a very close relation with Google: it's one of the first large universities in the US that uses Google Apps, the site search is powered by Google Search Alliance, [it] uses Google Maps and ASU campuses already have 3D models in Google Earth."
Additionally, ASU offered photographs for the Google Mars project and employees of the search engine sometimes serve as guest speakers or adjunct lecturers at the university.
Rumours concerning a Google Earth virtual world started last year, when the company released the 3D modelling programme SketchUp which allows developers to build layers on top of Google Earth.
