Ultimate Game Card Expands To Turkey, Brazil

By Alicia Ashby On July 3, 2009 · Leave a Comment

Today PlaySpan announced that its Ultimate Game Card was expanding into Turkey and Brazil. In Turkey the Ultimate Game Card will go on sale in 3,000 Internet cafes as well as an assortment of online game portals and Turkish Web sites. In Brazil, the Ultimate Game Card will go on sale in 1,400 Internet cafes and over 4,000 traditional retail outlets. Both markets are dominated by a young and unbanked population that's still very interested in purchasing virtual goods.

PlaySpan has talked about the Ultimate Game Card being available in Brazil and Turkey for at least a few months but it's only now that both cards have been fully integrated into local vendor storefronts. According to Playspan subsidiary PayByCash President Kevin Higgins, Ultimate Game Card has
a huge advantage over the competition in both of these markets when it comes to serving unbanked users.

"Many of the existing cash-equivalent payment methods have long delays
before the payment is received, making those methods much less
attractive and reducing conversion," said Higgins. "The Ultimate Game
Card allows for real-time redemption, the player gets into the game
virtually and instantly."

In Brazil, PlaySpan will be partnering with local service E-prepag to distribute cards and resolve payments. In Turkey, the company's payment partner will be Uyelikal. The release claims that Ultimate Game Card is expanding into other new countries but does not mention which ones. Higgins has indicated to Virtual Goods News that information about other new Ultimate Game Card territories will be announced in the coming months.