::::Zynga launches prepaid debit card with American Express::::

<div class=&quot;custm_img_blk&quot;><img src=&quot;http://www.techgig.com/files/photo_1337715160_temp.jpg&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; width=&quot;300&quot; height=&quot;200&quot; align=&quot;left&quot; /></div><p>Zynga Inc., the social games publisher, has reached a partnership agreement with American Express (<span>AXP.N</span>) to issue a prepaid debit card that could be used to redeem virtual credits, the two companies said.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>The partnership will help increase use of American Express' digital payments platform Serve as the credit card issuer competes with online gateway Paypal, a unit of eBay Inc (<span>EBAY.O</span>), which is pushing to process transactions by mobile phones.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>Zynga, whose shares have fallen as user numbers for its most popular games decline, aims to boost the profile of its partnership programs with major companies and also to retain users, who will be rewarded with in-game credits for swiping the American Express card.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>&quot;This is the first rewards program for a pre-paid card, and Zynga and American Express have the opportunity to bring value to Zynga players, while connecting and expanding American Express' customer base,&quot; Jeff Karp, Zynga's chief marketing and revenue officer, told Reuters.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>The two companies declined to disclose financial details of the partnership.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>Beginning this week, cardholders who make purchases exceeding $25 will collect &quot;Farm Cash,&quot; the currency used to purchase virtual goods within Zynga's FarmVille game.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>Zynga said it will roll out similar rewards for its CastleVille and CityVille in the coming months.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>&quot;This enables us for the first time, in a fully integrated fashion, to link everyday spend that you would do online or offline to in-game virtual currency rewards and special offers,&quot; said Daniel Schulman, group president of enterprise growth at American Express.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>In the future, Schulman said, the program will be expanded so Zynga players can receive real-life discounts for in-game activity.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>Zynga shares have shed almost half its value since April 1 amid investor doubts over whether the company can sustain its revenue growth.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>The company's stock has been battered especially in recent days, as Facebook's poorly received initial public offering has tainted some Internet stocks.</p><p style=&quot;margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px&quot;>Zynga shares closed down 1 percent on Monday at $7.09.</p>

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