El Segundo, Calif. - Toymaker Mattel (NYSE: MAT) on Monday introduced a new subscription-based version of its BarbieGirls.com virtual world, "Barbie Girls V.I.P.," which will cost $5.99 per month and offer "a world four times larger than its original size, with new locations to explore, new games and new experiences throughout the site." In addition, V.I.P. members will exclusively be able to purchase members-only fashions, furniture and room décor, and pet accessories.

El Segundo, Calif. - Toymaker Mattel said on Wednesday that its BarbieGirls.com virtual world for kids has now surpassed 4 million registered users, within three months of its launch. This week the company will also ship the Barbie Girl, a $59 MP3 player that doubles as a fashion doll and USB key that unlocks additional content on BarbieGirls.com. Mattel also plans next week to launch Barbie Girls websites in five additional languages, including French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese.