Tycoons Row

With IMVU, you don’t have to be “IN” Second Life to show your “second life.”  Based out of Palo Alto, Ca, IMVU is a 3-D social messaging service that brings out the creativity in you.  The company boasts aprox. 1 million users around the world, who are using 3-D Avatars to chat and interact with each other.  IMVU is like MySpace but in 3-D and with a virtual reality spin to it.

One outstanding feature of the service is that users can bring the avatars to life.  Avatars can move, provide a hug, kisses, greets and flirting all with clicks of a button. You are bringing your instant messages to a new level with the avatars.  Additionally, you can chat in different selected scenes. Here’s one that looks similar to a Starbuck’s coffee shop.

To use IMVU, you have to use credits. Although the registration is free; credits (which work and is like real money) allows you to function effectively on IMVU.  You start off with 1,000 credits just by registering and can earn additional credits.

Earn by chatting, browsing for products and inviting friends.  Additionally, you can buy credits which allow you to purchase different items such as clothes, stickers and even additional avatars.

There are many opportunities for this service that can be provided.  The interactivity can provide great value for the Gen Y generation on mobile phones developing customized video games and or just having and sharing a virtual experiences.  A lot of what Web 2.0 is about in these days in times is freedom of expression. This company generates revenues through micropayments.  With only a year in and 1 million customers buying credits, I think they are onto something.