Habbo Launches Habbometer To Poll Users

Habbo has launched the Habbometer, a brief monthly poll designed to gauge the opinions of its users. Habbo plans to use the Habbometer as a regular source of information about what teens are thinking and share it with marketers and advertisers. The first Habbometer poll asks users about how they discover and enjoy music.

Turner Entertainment Inks Ad Deal With MCN

Turner International announced the appointment of Multi Channel Network (MCN) as national sales representative for its leading kids’ channels, Cartoon Network and Boomerang and their online destinations CartoonNetwork.com.au and BoomerangTV.com.au. Turner’s partnership with MCN furthers its sales strategy to provide dynamic, integrated advertising solutions for Australian marketers looking to engage with youth and families.

Sulake Returns To Growth After Cost Cuts

Sulake recorded its best first-half-of-year revenue this year – an improvement from 2009, when its income declined. H1 earnings were 20 percent up on last year at €29.8 million; €14.7 million of that had been in Q1. Sulake scored €3.5 million in pre-tax profit.

SupersonicAds Raises $2 Million

SupersonicAds, has raised $2 million in a new round of funding led by former Skype chief executive Michael van Swaaij. SupersonicAds’ monetization tool allows developers and publishers to reward players with free virtual currency for online titles, social games, and virtual worlds after they participate in targeted offers, watch commercials, or engage with brands in other ways.

Habbo and MTV sign deal to share content and ads

MTV and Habbo have signed a strategic partnership to host content and ads on each other’s platforms in the UK to appeal to new audiences. The first round of advertising across both platforms launches this month and will see two ad spots on MTV channels promoting an MTV fan group and virtual studio on Habbo.

IMVU’s Virtual Cash Cow: Doubling Revenues, Focused On Gaming

IMVU is increasing its staff by 50% (going from 60 to 90 employees) and is on track to double sales this year. Currently, the company is at an annual revenue run rate of $40 million— and according to CEO Cary Rosenzweig the Palo Alto based company should hit a $60 million annual revenue run rate by the end of this year. For the last two years, revenues have roughly doubled from $11 million in 2008 to $22 million in 2009 and now $40-plus million in 2010. That’s a lot of real world dough for a company whose fortune is based on virtual currency and an endless factory of avatar accessories.

IMVU Teams with Vivox to Bring Voice to Its Online Community

IMVU announced that it has partnered with Vivox to bring voice chat to the IMVU community. This natural partnership gives the millions of IMVU members the ability to speak to one another using their real voices within IMVU. In addition, members can choose from a selection of 25 voice fonts, which generate voice effects such as the “inner munchkin,” “super model” and “as-if attitude.” Voice fonts make it easy to role-play, joke or to remain anonymous.

Habbo Takes Twilight Launch Live

Habbo’s partnership with Twilight studio Summit Entertainment kicks off in earnest with the availability of Twilight-themed virtual goods. For the next four weeks Habbo Hotel users will be able acquire Twilight-themed goods for their in-world rooms. Additionally, one of the movie’s leads (still unannounced) will make one or more surprise appearances in-world to chat with and answer questions from Habbo users.

3V Online Payment Platform to Be Launched in Canada

3V Transaction Services, announced the launch of its flagship pay-as-you-go VISA voucher product in Canada. The announcement was made as part of the Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to Canada and follows the agreement of Canadian Peoples Trust Bank to act as the Canadian banking partner of 3V Transaction Services Ltd. Ventek Systems Inc. has also been secured as distribution partner for the Canadian 3V product platform. People’s Card Services, a division of Peoples Trust Bank, will work in conjunction with Ventek Systems lnc. to launch an instant access version of 3V’s pay-as-you-go VISA voucher product platform into the Canadian market in early 2010. It is anticipated that the market will yield spend values of $100 million in online payment value on the 3V Transaction Services product set per annum.

Habbo Signs with Cint to Build Youth Panels Across the Globe

Sulake, the company behind Habbo, has signed an agreement with online research company Cint to build youth panels across the globe. The panels are already available to access in Cint Panel Exchange, a global platform for managing online panels where market researchers can login and buy access to online sample in a secure, controlled environment.