Google is often portrayed as the technology hipster, rolling out Web applications almost at whim. But unseen to the public, <A HREF="http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,2237440,00.asp?kc=EWKNLENT122107STR5">IBM is rolling out Web 2.0 technologies</A> such as blogs, wikis, mashups and virtual reality technologies to help its employees be more productive. Inside its firewall, Big Blue looks pretty hip.

IBM's Metaverse virtual reality software is one of these areas. Though still a bit rough around the edges--it won't be mistaken for Second Life--some 2,200 IBM staffers are testing ways to collaborate with colleagues in the Metaverse, according to Mike Ackerbauer, innovation manager for collaboration development at IBM.