Beta Business Park (B2P)

• A office park that offers more than just land.
• A space for business networking.
• Support for businesses learning about virtual worlds.
• A safe environment for learning about Second Life.
• A business community around the B2P.
• Access to professional SL development services from one place.

Our members and tenants are individuals/enterprises looking to expand their global business network and learn about virtual worlds for business use. B2P members receive access to a variety of business oriented solutions delivered by Beta Technologies and its partners. The intent of the B2P is to encourage community building among its members.

WEB SITE

A B2P community website is accessible to all B2P members and various Beta and partner experts. The website provides a web interface to the B2P. The web site provides the following features:

• News section that includes important announcements about SL and the VW industry and news from B2P members. Members can post their own SL related news. There is also a news editor that highlights the most important VW news and who lets members post links to news that they find interesting.(Launching soon)
• Shared calendar for B2P events that also includes listings of events by B2P members on other parts of the grid. The shared calendar can be viewed by anyone, but only B2P members can add events to it. There are also in-world displays linking to the B2P events from the shared calendar.
• Infrastructure management tools that can be used to reserve common facilities in the B2P.
• Forums with different sections (launching soon)
  • a Q and A section where members can ask for help about SL and where Beta experts are there to answer (this is a web extension of the in-world Concierge support)
  • a section for member conversations about Virtual Worlds
  • a social area for lighter topics where members can get to know each other better and plan social activities that might not even be B2P related.
• Access to other B2P tools e.g. sim metrics provided by Beta Technologies (coming soon), the ability to order specific B2P solutions or to arrange a meeting with B2P experts.

EVENTS

The B2P hosts regular events for members that encourages networking between members and provides additional value to attendees. The B2P events are accessible only by B2P members or open to all SL residents (depending on the purpose of the event). Some of the possible B2P hosted events are:

• Professional development events such as business focused training, workshops, conferences.
• TreetTV live broadcasts that are business focused (shows like Metanomics or Real Biz in SL). Members of the B2P get together to watch the live show broadcast and comment on the show with other B2P members in real time.
• Mixers with live music that would be focused on socializing between members.

COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE

The B2P provides physical shared infrastructure in the B2P region for all B2P members. Usage of the community infrastructure is free of charge for all B2P members, with a few exception noted on the Rates and Services page, and chargeable to non-members. Community infrastructure includes:

• Large event amphitheater for big events.
• Smaller events spaces for different types of events.
• Social area for informal meetings and other social activities
• Conference rooms for meetings
• Commercial area that includes shops for business oriented tools made either by Beta or other SL residents.(coming soon)

LAND

The B2P provides land of different sizes as specified in the Rates and Services page. Parcel sizes are guidelines. 4000 square meters is the minimum size, but parcels of other sizes can be created. Members can choose either from the pre-made list of buildings shown on the Rates and Services page or a custom designed building created especially for them. Entire sims are also available. Buildings include a full range of interactive and display tools for providing information to visitors to making presentations to groups. Upcoming developments in Second Life display technology will be incorporated into members facilities as thet become available at no extra charge.

EDUCATION and CONSULTING

The B2P is a place to learn more about virtual worlds and in particular about using SL for business. Some solutions that B2P offers to its members are:

• Live help - Concierge support in the B2P. Members have access to live helpers that assist them with general SL problems (land issues, appearance, communication tools etc.). Questions that donʼt require immediate response (e.g. building, scripting questions) can be answered by Beta experts on the B2P community web site forum.
• Individual/group mentoring for users/groups that are just getting started in SL.
• Custom in-world workshops for B2P members on different aspects of VW and SL for business use and professional development, in general.
• General SL lectures for B2P members.
• Q and A events that also feature experts on a certain topic, e.g. a lawyers answering questions about the LL trademark policy that is not just a lecture but also an open dialogue between members exchanging opinions and experiences.
• Other services from B2P members or Beta partners.

EVENTS AND MARKETING

B2P members can organize events in the B2P and will often require help in SL event organization and marketing. B2P provides companies with contacts to SL media, advice on which SL media, SL related Web site or inworld locations itʼs best to use for event promotion. B2P staff includes experienced event organizers (with a stable of performers for special events).

Other SL specific services

Beta Technologies, B2P's parent company, can also provide a variety of SL specific services to B2P members, such as custom avatar making, custom builds and scripts, corporate machinimas, etc. Just ask a concierge for assistance.

The monthly fee is billed in 6 month increments. It is not refundable for early departures.