Barbie Turned into MP3 Player, Web Site

Mattel unveils Barbie as a new doll-like MP3 player (creepy) and also a virtual online community for girls to trade Barbie secrets.

Mattel today took Barbie Web 2.0 with the unveiling of BarbieGirls.com, the "first global, virtual online world designed exclusively for girls." Also unveiled by the toy company was the Barbie Girl device, a MP3 player which looks…well…like a Barbie doll in a techie sort of way.

The Barbie Girl device, which will be available in July, will price at around $60 and will offer a "range of customizable fashions and accessories" and also be capable of unlocking new content at BarbieGirls.com. The player will have 512MB of RAM and hold up to 120 MP3 or 240 WMA songs. This is expandable via a miniSD card slot. It can play any non-DRM-encrypted MP3 or WMA files, comes with Windows Media Player 11 and has a built-in rechargeable battery that charges via the USB port.

A belt clip, adjustable-sized earbuds and storage case are included with the Barbie Girl device. Accessory Packs are sold separately for around $10 and include various fashions, accessories and pets as well as additional, exclusive online content.

BarbieGirls.com, meanwhile, will let a girl "create a personalized virtual character, design her own room, shop with B Bucks (virtual money) that she earns, play games, watch videos and have real-time chats with other girls. Girls can create their own, highly-personalized virtual characters by choosing from 2.64 quadrillion character combinations of fashions and accessories, as well as stylish faces, expressions and hairstyles. Personalization also extends to each girl’s “room” where more than 4.6 quintillion combinations of room colors, floors, backgrounds and furniture are offered to suit girls’ varied design styles. Customization is limitless and profiles can be changed at every log-in. Girls can then chat live with other registered girls on the site."

This Web site, added Mattel, will offer several features to keep child predators and the like from trolling BarbieGirls.com as well as providing a generally clean and safe virtual environment.