| Status | Privately Held |
| Website | imvu.com |
| Category | Web |
| Phone | 650-646-3244 |
| Address |
411 High Street Palo Alto, CA, 94301 USA |
IMVU is not a virtual world. It is a 3D IM client with 1 million beta users as of the summer of 2007. IMVU offers users a customizable 3D avatar and chat service through a downloadable application. Avatars have a variety of clothes, accessories and scenes and although each scene looks like part of a full virtual world, actual movement is limited. Unlike more robust avatar based programs like Second Life, IMVU has an understandably younger user base. Avatars generally appear to be in their teens, yet often have very revealing clothes. In the near future, IMVU plans to add games and branded accessories and characters to the program. Users will be able to be their favorite movie stars and dress in clothes they wear in real life. This potentially opens IMVU up to clothing and accessory advertisers as well as game developers.
Currently IMVU earns revenue through ads and avatar upgrades. You can find a sample video of IMVU here and information about other virtual applications here and here.
