It’s a shopping centre that does not close: store after store open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it’s already available to Australians.

The virtual shopping mall, the first of its kind, is the brainchild of Melbourne systems engineer John Cecotti. Run by Mr Ceccoti’s company, Skynet Virtual Systems, the shopping centre is unlike most online shopping sites in that buyers do not have to type in a URL.

They only have to download the centre to start shopping.

Also, unlike any other online shopping site, customers are able to walk around in the mall, interact with other shoppers and shopkeepers and buy products that will then be delivered straight to their door.

Mr Cecotti says the main appeal of the shopping centre is that it is so much like the real deal.

“Our shopping centre looks and acts just like the real thing. There is a movie theatre, post office, games park and fountain in the middle, music in the background,” he said.

“This is going to be the future of shopping online, totally innovative.”

Mr Cecotti says the idea for the virtual shopping centre came to him eight years ago when he noticed how much some of the elderly and disabled struggled to get around.

“I thought it would be good to have an online shopping centre for which you don’t have to know the principle of your search and not have to type in a URL.

“It makes life a lot easier,” he says.

“I approached the government and it was interested, but dial-up connections were too slow, so I kept it on the side, and when broadband became widely available, I got it patented.”

Cecotti expects the virtual shopping centre to appeal to all Australians.

“It’s designed so it appeals to everyone, but especially people who are elderly and handicapped,” he says.

“These people are very independent and would rather do these things themselves, but on some days, for whatever reason, they just can’t.

“This will be especially useful for them.”

Six stores have set up shop so far in the virtual shopping centre and there are places for 66 stores.

Melbourne Lord Mayor John So will enter cyberspace to cut the ribbon at the official opening of the store.

For more Infomation about leasing a shop please visit:

www.skynetvirtualsystems.com.au

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