Name: Habbo

Company: Sulake Corp., a Finland-based entertainment and media company.

Established: August 2000

Overview: Part virtual world, part social networking site, Habbo is aimed primarily at the teen and "tween" audiences. The virtual world itself is called Habbo Hotel, and it consists of lobbies, lounges and party rooms where users can socialize.

How it Works: Habbo runs in the browser on Shockwave, with nothing to download. A point-and-click interface allows users to move about the chat rooms, while a text field in the screen's menu bar lets them compose messages. By clicking items on the bar, users can navigate among rooms, view their friends, send private messages and manage their inventory in pop-up menus.

Payment Model: Habbo is free to access, but the whole works runs on the economy of Habbo Credits. There is some limited free content-- free chat rooms, four free games and basic customization and animation for avatars-- but most of the content, like furniture (furni to denizens) accessories and popular games, requires Credits, which can be purchased at twenty cents a piece. Players can also trade credits and furni among themselves. Credits also can be used to pay the monthly cost of optional membership (30 a month) to the Habbo Club, which allows access to even more exclusive items and VIP chat rooms. Members earn badges of honor for subscribing to the club for various lengths of time. Habbo also earns revenue through sponsors, like Sunkist Orange, who advertise in-world.

Key Features:
-Language filters replace all offensive words with "bobba"
-"Habbo Trax" lets users buy virtual CDs to play in the chat rooms
-Moderators are full-time, police-vetted Habbo employees who work from home

Useful Links:
Habbo FAQ
The Habbo Way
Habbo Teams Up with Earth Day Network