Rumor Mill: Google Planning Second Life Rival?

Monday, September 24th, 2007;
-- Andy Beal |

This is one of two Google rumors that surfaced over the weekend–the other one is here.

Apparently Arizona State University sent out invitations to students that mention a super-secret, sign-an-NDA-or-else, social networking project.

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A few teasers have led most to conclude this must be a Google project:

  1. “a  major internet company” - yep, that sounds like Google.
  2. A questions asking if you have a Gmail account - hmm, I doubt MSFT or Yahoo would be asking that.
  3. Google already has Google earth and 3D modeling software.

In case you need further convincing that Google is behind this super-secret project, Google Operating System offers this compelling but circumstantial evidence.

Arizona State University has a very close relation with Google: it’s one of the first large universities in the US that uses Google Apps, the site search is powered by Google Search Appliance, the university uses Google Maps and the ASU campuses already have 3D models in… Google Earth. But there’s actually more than this: the university offered photos for the Google Mars project, Google employees serve as guest speakers or adjunct lecturers at ASU and Google has an office on the Tempe campus of Arizona State University.

Images courtesy GOS.

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4 Responses to “Rumor Mill: Google Planning Second Life Rival?”

  1. Visalia Homes for Sale Says:

    Just what college students need - another distraction! :)

  2. Jonathan Parent » Blog Archive » Google SketchUp + Google Earth = Projet Google à la Second Life ? Says:

    […] Ce matin, chez Marketing Pilgrim, la machine à rumeur vient ajouter un élément intéressant, à savoir que les étudiants de l’Arizona State University ont reçus des invitations à un projet catégorisé comme secret. Présenté comme étant d’une compagnie Internet majeure, ça éveille un soupçon sur Google dans la mesure où ceux-ci demande dans le questionnaire si vous avez un compte Gmail. Comme mentionné chez Marketing Pilgrim, il est fort à parié que cette « major internet company » ne soit ni Microsoft, ni Yahoo qui, ont s’entend, sont trois à pouvoir se pavaner de ce titre. […]

  3. Water Portal Says:

    what was the name of that mobile social network by google? it got so much buzz but where is it now?

    see even i dont remember the name of it:)

  4. Briana Says:

    Orkut. Not very catchy.

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