Great Article about Second Life by Business Week:
Second Life Lessons –
Real-world businesses face the costs and learn the benefits of setting up shop in the online universe

Here are three Key-Statements:
– within the 3D universe of Second Life, the growing Web-based world with more than 1 million “residents,” who collectively spend $7 million a month on virtual land, products, and services

– While advertising’s traditional media seem to be losing eyeballs, the population of Second Life is growing at 35% per month and its economy at 15% per month.

– For a company considering jumping into Second Life now, serious homework is needed. Competition among big brands is heating up. It’s no longer enough to be the first in an industry to launch a presence in Second Life. Just as Toyota, and now Nissan and General Motors, conducted market research in the digital world before unveiling its plan to sell virtual cars next month, savvy corporations and their Second Life developers must carefully analyze the competition and differentiate their products.