Telstra makes a big splash on Second Life

Stuart Corner
Sunday, 11 March 2007 05:38

Your IT - Home IT

Telstra's ISP, BigPond, has created an experimental group of 11 islands in the online virtual world of Second Life, claiming the move represents "Australia's first major corporate presence in the online virtual world."

Telstra's presence on Second Life, known as 'The Pond' features islands "with uniquely Australian themes and recreations of iconic Australian landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, the Outback and Uluru."

On the islands, 'avatars' - the 3D virtual characters that people create to represent themselves in Second Life - can participate in a range of 'virtual' activities including car racing, scuba diving and ice skating. They can "join communities with shared interests, go shopping together at The Dome Shopping Mall and dance at the Illusion Club. They can take a boat trip or relax and have a drink in the Outback Billabong Bar."

BigPond is launching islands called: The Pond, Ponderosa, Billabong, Ponden, Ponderama, Pondessa, Pondex, Pondfield, Pondice, Pondillion and Pondshen. Registration is open to any Internet user, but only BigPond customers get access without data counting towards any download quota associated with the service.

Users must register on the BigPond Second Life home page, http://my.bigpond.com/pond/secondlife/ download from BigPond the Second Life client software (available for Mac and Windows). install it and log in. They arrive directly at BigPond's orientation island and After orientation they can go directly to the main Pond Islands' arrival platform and start to explore.

Thieproject was developed and produced by Gary Hayes of UK based, The Project Factory.