A Virtual World but Real Money

It's all about the money; that's what it boils down to. As more people shift online to conduct their daily business and socialize, companies are trying new ways to reach this audience. This is just a sign of things to come.

The Second Life online service is fast becoming a three-dimensional test bed for corporate marketers, including Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Sun Microsystems, Nissan, Adidas/Reebok, Toyota and Starwood Hotels.

The sudden rush of real companies into so-called virtual worlds mirrors the evolution of the Internet itself, which moved beyond an educational and research network in the 1990’s to become a commercial proposition — but not without complaints from some quarters that the medium’s purity would be lost.

A Virtual World but Real Money - New York Times