Monday, September 24th, 2007 by Andy Beal

7

Rumor Mill: Google Planning Second Life Rival?

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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7 comments on “Rumor Mill: Google Planning Second Life Rival?”

  1. Visalia Homes for Sale Says:

    September 24th, 2007 at 11:25 am

    Just what college students need – another distraction! :)

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

    September 24th, 2007 at 4:03 pm

    [...] 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:

    September 25th, 2007 at 12:05 pm

    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:

    November 26th, 2007 at 3:51 pm

    Orkut. Not very catchy.

  5. Lively.com: Google's Product for Virtual Life (vs SecondLife) Says:

    July 9th, 2008 at 1:18 pm

    [...] is a outcome of Arizona State University social networking project where Google wanted to create SecondLife’s rival. Eventhough in beta and asking for feedback, [...]

  6. Lively addition to the Google universe | Beneath the Red Hood - Integricity’s Corporate Blog Says:

    July 23rd, 2008 at 5:47 am

    [...] internet company’ sent out invitations to Arizona State University students to test out a new social networking project they were working [...]

  7. Lionel Oliva Says:

    September 23rd, 2008 at 1:03 am

    It would be great if they pulled it off, but Google ought to focus on better monetizing YouTube or selling it, and allowing more advertisers to use bank debit cards and PayPal before starting off on another “reinvent an Internet wheel”. As a Second Life user, I’ve seen Google increase the platform’s value greatly with search and map applications. Why don’t they use the university people to experiment on a few Second Life bells and whistles and use the info to leverage a buyout?

    Lionel Oliva’s last blog post..Plan A Trip To This SL Planetarium!