Linden Details Second Life Enterprise

Linden Lab tomorrow will announce the launch of an open beta program for its behind-the-firewall product, Second Life Enterprise (formerly known by the moniker Nebraska). In addition to Second Life Enterprise, the will also announce the  Second Life Work Marketplace, slated to be launched in early 2010. Marketplace, according to the company, will enable users to "further customize their virtual world environments while also creating additional revenue streams."

Linden Lab says there are 14 organizations already participating in the beta program for Second Life Enterprise, including IBM, Northrop Grumman, Naval Undersea Warfare Center, DefenseWeb Technologies, Case Western Reserve University, and The New Media Consortium.

Linden says the current tally of organizations which hold meetings, conduct training sessions and prototype new technologies using the Second LIfe platform number over 1,400, some of which may choose to privatize their virtualized businesses via Enterprise.

Pricing for Second Life Enterprise starts at $55,000. Linden Lab expects the beta program to run through the year; it will then announce additional details surrounding the general availability of the new product sometime during the first half of 2010.

The Second Life Work Marketplace is currently under development and a closed alpha is planned for the end of calendar Q1 2010.