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Of course it's like web hosting. Such a model works well for many types of online services that require enough resources to make them unprofitable to provide, to everyone, for free. Some other common types of hosting that is similar to SL's model of handling server costs would be hosting DNS, audio/video streaming services, servers handling heavy use file downloads, Ventrilo hosting, etc.

> "missed what should be patently obvious to anyone who has owned land in Second Life."

Perhaps this parallel wasn't missed at all just deemed too technical and detailed to delve into on articles centered around real estate, social media, virtual tour walk-through and all those other good things the large majority of readers of such news would be interested in. Those who want to learn how LL pays for their server farms can easily find that information out.

> "equates to about 8.3 simulators. In the grand scheme of things, that isn't much... not much at all."

Yup, you're right it isn't. No where near enough to effect the mainland selling market prices or effect those who rent out land from their estate sims. Glad it took only time to quell the fear that Coldwell Banker was in SL to make profit while taking profit from hard working individuals and small business.

>"It is kind of cool to consider that a real estate company is reselling web hosting."

That it is. Happened to be one of the key points for Coldwell Banker's first project in SL. Though what is offered is geared towards newer residents in the world. Anyone who qualifies (over 99% of SL's population) is welcome to rent a 1024sqm themed residential mainland rental (for less than 1USD per week) or purchase up to 2048sqm of mainland.

Chrischun Fassbinder
chrischun@code4software.com