Big Business Moves Into SL

Well it seems that big business is starting to make a move into the metaverse in order to reach more consumers. After all this does make sense, because with SL currently at 1.39 million residents and steadily growing, the metaverse is where people are gathering.On Tuesday, Dell formally kicked off it’s foray into Second Life with the unveiling of Dell Island as their in-world location. It seems that Dell plans upon selling residents virtual PCs. Residents can use LSL - the in-world scripting language to configure the virtual Dell PCs to perform a number of simple tasks, such as alerting them when one of their friends are nearby.  But for the most part, the virtual PCs are just to accessorize your virtual life.

However, Dell does have a valid business plan behind their SL presence. Dell plans to push the company’s high-end XPS line of PCs within SL. These systems come with more powerful components and flashier exteriors than Dell’s regular PCs. Currently the XPS 1710 gaming notebook is available for order within Dell’s Second Life island.

Dell Island simply features a factory room, where residents can configure their real and/or virtual PCs, as well as a walk through model of a Dell XPS 710 PC and a mock up of Michael Dell’s University of Texas at Austin dorm room, where the company was founded.

I hear on the grapevine that other commercial entities, including Toyota and Nissan, are quickly setting up shop within the SL metaverse. So are a few technology companies such as Sun Microsystems and IBM, a move that will place them in direct competition with residents who have set up their own shops that sell virtual hip cars or the latest PCs. Are you prepared to compete with the big boys?