The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies for Business Success

Chapter 31. Virtual Worlds

Virtual worlds present a new frontier for businesses with the possibility of real-time interaction with employees, customers, and vendors. The tax preparation service H&R Block was an early adopter of virtual applications, creating virtual storefronts to advise and educate virtual clients about real-world tax matters. Other businesses are also finding ways to sell actual goods and services in a virtual world. It's still early on the virtual world frontier, but you should watch this category closely.

To help you get a better feel for how tools and applications in this category might be of value to your business, this chapter introduces you to five of the key players in this space:

• Active Worlds

• Kaneva

• Second Life

• There

• ViOS

As you read each profile, keep in mind that its features and functions may or may not be right for your particular business. Use the Tool Scorecard at the end of the chapter to help you determine which of these tools qualify for further consideration when you begin creating your social media strategy in Part III of the book.

Active Worlds

Company Name:	Active Worlds Inc.
URL:	www.activeworlds.com
Location:	Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Founded:	1997
Revenue Model:	Advertising, premium subscriptions, servers

What Is It?

Active Worlds is "a comprehensive platform for efficiently delivering real-time interactive 3D content over the web." Users create avatars that they use to explore worlds (some of which are created by other users) and engage in various ...