Lively.com - Evolution in virtual socialization
Google started a new (or at least new to me) site for social gatherings and virtual chats between two or more avatar representatives in Sims style 3D environment.
Well, you have a collection of rooms, you have your basic avatars (and you can buy more - here's one of the places that the money will come from).
I played with it a bit on the train on my way to work, I don't know what is the recommended bandwidth but although the room materialized rather fast (30 sec's), I couldn't connect from some reason, so the best I have is the screen shot below with no interaction with other users (bummer !).
BTW, the CPU took it very well - 40% usage (on CORE 2 DUO 1.8Ghz, 4GB ram, vista, dell laptop), considering that in "idle" the usage is about 15-20%.