Social Calendar to Sell Virtual Currency Through Amazon Payments

Last night, users of the popular Facebook scheduling app SocialCalendar found a new option waiting for them when they logged in: the ability to spend money to purchase more points, which serve as the app's virtual currency. SocialCalendar users can spend points primarily on virtual gifts for Facebook friends and also on elaborate holiday-themed icons to use in creating SocialCalendar occasions.

Previously, users could only acquire points by using various Social Calendar features like logging in to the app each day, scheduling new occasions, and leaving comments. Now users can purchase 1,000 points for $.99, 5,000 points for $4.99, or 12,000 points for $9.99. SocialCalendar takes payments exclusively through the Amazon Payments system.

It is not too surprising that SocialCalendar is using Amazon Payments since the app otherwise features fully integrated support for Amazon's Wish Lists. Users are encouraged to keep up Wish Lists so online friends who want to give more substantial gifts on special occasions can send them something from it.

What is very surprising is to see any Facebook app choose to accept one payment system exclusively, as most instead try to support as many different different payment options as possible. "SocialCalendar chose Amazon Payments because of their huge user base,
flexible payment products, and superb user experience," said SocialCalendar founder and CEO Raj Lawlani.

In addition to the ability to purchase points through Amazon Payments, SocialCalendar also released a new suite of Valentine's Day virtual gifts yesterday. These gifts are significantly more expensive and elaborate on the whole than prior virtual gift offerings and include a 1,500 point virtual bouquet of roses and two new 750 point offerings. Previously, only the most expensive SocialCalendar virtual gifts got into the 750 point range.

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