Your2ndPlace

It seems that Japan's Mizuho Bank is entering Second Life with... a Ferris Wheel:

Tokyo, Aug 28, 2007 (Jiji Press) - Japan's Mizuho Bank said Tuesday it will launch an online Ferris wheel in a three-dimensional virtual world called "Second Life" as a new way to promote its services and products in an increasingly virtual age.

The Mizuho Financial Group Inc. <8411> unit will be the first major Japanese bank to open a service in Second Life, the virtual world run by Linden Lab of the United States, it said.

Visitors can ride the Ferris wheel, which will open in early October in a virtual city operated by Japanese advertising giant Dentsu Inc. <4324>, when they correctly answer certain questions about Mizuho Bank's services and products.

A Mizuho Bank spokesman said that the bank is considering connecting services in Second Life to its Internet banking system.

Aside from the amusing aspect of a Ferris Wheel (I suppose the next step will be Bumper Cars for bank presences...), it is interesting that the bank would consider connecting its services to Second Life. This, of course, would require people to waive their privacy within Second Life for their account services to be considered legal, I think.

But it is Japan. They tend to beat bureaucracy down faster than their Western counterparts. Who knows... maybe the Ferris Wheel is a lucky charm.

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