US digital micro-transactions and payments services provider PlaySpan has selected PayPal's Adaptive Payments APIs to enable consumers to make online purchases from inside social networks.

Prior to the initiative, customers who wanted to make a PayPal purchase had to open up a new window or navigate away from the social networking websites. Now, they will be able to initiate transactions without leaving the games and social network applications by establishing a PIN with PayPal that they can then enter directly when using PlaySpan’s payment products. This functionality will be made available on PlaySpan's Spare Change payment service network, which allows for microtransactions for over 500 third-party applications on Facebook.

The Adaptive Payments API is part of the PayPal X network. According to PayPal, the system is also compatible with mobile applications, which will make it easier for customers to make purchases with their mobile devices.

PlaySpan provides global payment solutions via its subsidiary PayByCash with 85 payment methods in 180 countries. The Ultimate Game Card can be used for payments on 300 multiplayer games and around 700 games on popular social networking sites.