Linden Lab, which operates virtual world Second Life, announced the launch of SLim, a lightweight, voice-enabled instant messaging client that lets users talk to buddies beyond Second Life's virtual borders.

Previously, users could only communicate with friends "in-world," or logged in and using the primary viewer, on a PC or other web-connected device.

SLim — an acronym for Second Life instant messaging — gives users the ability to turn a text conversation into voice, get real-time presence status updates, and leave voicemails for offline friends.

"[W]e saw a need to expand the world beyond its borders, enabling constant connection regardless of location," said Joe Miller, Vice President of Platform and Technology Development. With functions like VoIP and instant messaging, SLim is positioned as an enterprise tool, writes Virtual Worlds News.

The voice technology is provided by Vivox, which partnered with Linden Lab in August 2007. Second Life residents have since logged over 8.5 billion minutes, technically making Linden Lab one of the largest VoIP providers in the world.

Linden Lab began contemplating a way to bridge the gap between virtual and real world behavior over a year ago, but previous efforts focused on bringing the real world to Second Life, rather than the vice-versa.

Pending technologies will also allow users to control avatars from a hand-held device, like a cell phone, or even through a wearable device that transforms real-life actions into avatar movements.