Ambient Sound Investments (ASI), which was created in 2003 by four founding Skype engineers, will acquire a stake as part of a Series A funding in Frenzoo, the Hong Kong-based, 3D social networking platform. ASI founders include Ahti Heinla, who serves as Chief Architect at Skype, Priit Kasesalu, Senior Developer at Skype, Jaan Tallinn, another Senior Developer at Skype, and Toivo Annu, former Head of Engineering at Skype. Terms of the upcoming acquisition have not been disclosed.
Frenzoo, currently in private beta, aims to be a centralizing hub for teen culture, providing a space for young adults to connect with friends and experience fashion. Users can create their online persona with 3D avatars, and participate within Frenzoo by interacting with virtual clothing, mixing and matching a variety of branded clothes, furniture, accessories and other lifestyle items. Frenzoo is looking to be an ideal advertising network for big brands looking for creative ways to penetrate the teen demographic. In a move similar to Second Life, items within the Frenzoo game will be virtual replicas of branded items, that players can incorporate into their 3D online space.
Other virtual world games that are good for brand marketing include CyWorld, which has recently launched its own fashion directive along side its Eyespot video editing addition, Habbo, and Sony Home.
