Apparently I’ve been missing something. A friend sent me an article yesterday about IBM opening up some of their Second Life properties, including islands, to all Second Life citizens. Okay, I asked the same question.

What is Second Life?

Second Life is a 3-D virtual world entirely built and owned by its residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by a total of 1,982,808 people from around the globe, and over US$600,000 has been spent in the last 24 hours. The currency in SL is called LindeX, which is initially gained by exchange of your US$ through your favorite credit card. You can create your own Second You called an Avatar, then buy and sell real estate, clothes, and many other products and services in the realm of Second Life.

IBM is exploring the possibilities of using Second Life for Customer Service says IBM spokesman Matthew McMahon “Instead of me trying to explain in a phone call how to unscrew your hard drive, someone in a more immersive 3D world could actually show you,”

NBC is also leveraging Second Life for their new iVillage property and tonight they’re hosting the very first Second Life “Girls Night Out” at the iVillage Loft on Sheep Island, picture below.

How about virtual recruiting? Is anyone leveraging this new virtual reality for recruitment? Insider information says a very prominent Recruitment Ad Agency will be holding virtual job fairs on their very own SL Island sometime in 2007.

And for those who don’t think this is real business check out this article about the first Second Life millionaire.

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