Facebook testing Credits outside of Facebook

In the test, users of those games will have only one choice of payment option, Facebook Credits, instead of the usual GameHouse options of paying by credit card or PayPal. Players will be able to integrate their game experience of these games on both GameHouse and Facebook and pay for goods from one funding source. Facebook and GameHouse, a unit of RealNetworks, are looking to see how players react to the option, which will determine how each proceeds with Facebook Credits.

This could be a big springboard for Facebook to become a major payments player if it aggressively takes its Facebook Credits to other properties on the web. It’s already made Facebook Credits mandatory for gaming apps on Facebook as of July 1 and an option for other Facebook apps. It recently extended credits to mobile app developers who want to build HTML5 apps on its mobile platform. It was also allowing people to pay using Facebook Credits for things like Facebook Deals. If it can leverage its relationships with Facebook Connect publishers, it can offer a fast and easy payment alternative to credit cards, PayPal or other phone billing options.

Facebook would likely have to lower its cut of transactions, which is currently 30 percent for Facebook developers, if it wants to move beyond virtual goods. But if it got it down to a percentage that was competitive, say around 5 percent or so, it could build off the many Facebook users that already have Facebook Credits. Websites like GameHouse, as well as independent game developers, may stand to benefit if they can drive more transactions with the help of Facebook Credits.

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