Activeworlds has made available its "Active Worlds 3D Avatar and World Explorer" app, built on the Facebook platform. Using Version 1.0 of the company's Embedded Virtual World Control, it uses the functionality of Internet Explorer and Microsoft's ActiveX to enable companies and developers to build virtual world apps on Facebook's platform.

The company says the tool uses existing standards to let developers build virtual world experiences on their sites without giving up any control of their own servers and economy. The use of ActiveX allows elements of the platform to be distributed across websites and social network pages.

The company also says IBM is already using the embed with Facebook, and that IBM has developed an Activeworlds-powered "intraverse" that sits behind its firewall, aiming to create a confidential channel for employee and customer networking.

Said Activeworlds chairman JP McCormick, "Since our Active Worlds technology continues to be standards-driven, we feel this release sets a new milestone on 3D Internet implementation," said JP McCormick. The push is on for interoperability and a set of standards which will drive Virtual World technology into the future. We believe that many of these already exist. By continuing to enhance our already standards driven application we greatly increase our value to e- commerce, education, entertainment, and social networking sites, as well as our core business with Fortune 500 companies."

Caveat -- it only works with IE.