Serbia enters virtual world

Tonight sees the opening of Virtual Serbia in a virtual 3D digital “Second Life” world. The Serbia in question is in fact an island costing USD 6,000 where the Marketing Srbija magazine sees not only marketing potential, but also a way of promoting a different Serbia. Serbia enters virtual world “Second Life” gives participants the chance to create another life and another self, and communicate on a completely new level in the virtual world. The Publicis Grupa marketing agency launched the “Serbia Under Construction” project by buying space in the virtual world. For the first time, Serbia will be able to continually construct its virtual “island” with various components, and thus address the domestic and international public by promoting its cornucopia of values, says Publicis. At a Publicis press conference, Ana Petrovski claimed the first company in Serbia to support the project was Telekom Srbija, which as result, also found itself presented in Second Life. According to her, the Diaspora Ministry will soon be moving in next door to the Belgrade Philharmonic in this virtual world. According to information available, that virtual world already has around 8.5mn visitors, and among the world’s inhabitants, besides individuals, there are also countries and companies who, via their representative offices, promote their products and values, and communicate with users. Stressing that the “Serbia Under Construction” project was very significant for Serbia’s brand image, and its involvement in international trends, culturologist and communications expert Zorica Tomic said that the project was “a complete novelty in the domain of modern communication on our territory.” The “island’s” official opening will take place tonight at 8 p.m. with a concert directed by Ivan Tasovac of the Belgrade Philharmonic, which will mark the first appearance by someone from Serbia in Second Life. The public can attend by downloading the necessary software from the secondlife.com website, creating an identity, with which it is possible to travel round the virtual world. There, one can buy an island or land, as well as opening one's own business or making money, using the virtual currency of the “Linden Dollar.” The virtual world was launched in 2003 in San Francisco, since when it has received about 8.5mn visitors, while it is estimated that by March 2008 that figure will have risen to some 25mn. The virtual world

Serbia enters virtual world

“Second Life” gives participants the chance to create another life and another self, and communicate on a completely new level in the virtual world.

The Publicis Grupa marketing agency launched the “Serbia Under Construction” project by buying space in the virtual world.

For the first time, Serbia will be able to continually construct its virtual “island” with various components, and thus address the domestic and international public by promoting its cornucopia of values, says Publicis.

At a Publicis press conference, Ana Petrovski claimed the first company in Serbia to support the project was Telekom Srbija, which as result, also found itself presented in Second Life.

According to her, the Diaspora Ministry will soon be moving in next door to the Belgrade Philharmonic in this virtual world.

According to information available, that virtual world already has around 8.5mn visitors, and among the world’s inhabitants, besides individuals, there are also countries and companies who, via their representative offices, promote their products and values, and communicate with users.

Stressing that the “Serbia Under Construction” project was very significant for Serbia’s brand image, and its involvement in international trends, culturologist and communications expert Zorica Tomić said that the project was “a complete novelty in the domain of modern communication on our territory.”

The “island’s” official opening will take place tonight at 8 p.m. with a concert directed by Ivan Tasovac of the Belgrade Philharmonic, which will mark the first appearance by someone from Serbia in Second Life.

The public can attend by downloading the necessary software from the secondlife.com website, creating an identity, with which it is possible to travel round the virtual world.

There, one can buy an island or land, as well as opening one's own business or making money, using the virtual currency of the “Linden Dollar.”

The virtual world was launched in 2003 in San Francisco, since when it has received about 8.5mn visitors, while it is estimated that by March 2008 that figure will have risen to some 25mn.