Here’s a list of some of the more popular grids running OpenSim: http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2009/08/august-hypergrid-list/

However, there are dozens, if not thousands, of others — anyone can download the software and create their own virtual universe.

OpenSim has only become practically usable this summer. The hypergrid teleport system was developed in the spring, and then OpenSim really started to take off. Yet the total count of regions — 5,000 at my last count on the high-profile public grids alone — is already a fifth of Second Life’s size.

And it’s continuing to grow — OSGrid alone is growing at around 25% a month.

For companies, the benefit is that they can run a grid in-house, on their own servers, with no software license costs. And because the software is open and modular, they can easily add connectors to enteprise applications and corporate directories — as IBM did with its OpenSim-based Lotus Sametime 3D product.

Having access to the server code also means easier integration with back-end databases like product catalogs. For example, 3Di has recently released their OpenViewer, which works inside a Web browser. Japanese electronics e-tailer Sanwa is already using it to run their virtual 3D store: http://www.hypergridbusiness.com/2009/09/3d-openviewer-almost-ready-for-prime-time/

For those looking to work at a smaller scale, an old home computer can easily serve up a couple of regions to a handful of visitors at a time. And if you’re looking for professional hosting in a high-speed data center, prices to rent an entire region start at just $15 a month.

And region owners don’t just have the option of running server-side applications. They can also do a full backup of their region at any time. Many people, in fact, automate the backup process so there’s a snapshot of their builds if they ever lose anything — or want to go back to an earlier version.

And if you’re looking for custom builds or scripts, the OpenSim platform is currently more than 97% compatible with Second Life’s (they’re still working on some high-end vehicle physics aspects, but other than that, the experience is completely indistinguishable). That means that if you hire someone with Second Life experience, they can seamlessly make the transition to working on OpenSim projects.

Sure, Second Life still has the user base. If you’re looking to go online to socialize with people, or to sell virtual goods, you want to go to the most popular spot. That’s Second Life. None of the OpenSim-based grids even compare. So far. But for virtual meetings, conferences, training, education — OpenSim is steadily becoming a more attractive alternative.

Second Life is starting to look more and more like AOL every day, Jeff — remember the old days when AOL was the main way of getting onto the Internet, and had a walled garden? And it looked so much better than all those dinky websites that people were setting up, and was much safe, and a more pleasant environment? But eventually they had to take the gates down and join the Internet — and scrap their own platform in favor of HTML.

The rise of the World Wide Web destroyed AOL’s market position.

Why do you think the rise of the OpenSim-based hypergrid will help Second Life?

– Maria Korolov, editor, Hypergrid Business