This has given rise to credibility issues, that is the inadequacy of the platform to process e-commerce transactions.
With this new app, however, it might make social commerce more convenient for sellers and buyers. I think this represents a step toward credibilizing social commerce. In other words, instead of blogshop/FB store owners having to move to a more 'legitimate' EC platfiorm like a shopping cart to gain credibility, social media is becoming more credible as an EC platform with facilitites like this.
The other question, of course, is whether users in this part of the world will adopt this or other apps like this one.
From: http://mashable.com/2011/11/17/paypal-facebook-send-money/#view_as_one_page-gallery_box3137
Social payments are taking a giant leap forward. PayPal has unveiled a Facebook app that lets you send money to friends.
The app, simply titled Send Money, is just as straightforward as its name. You have the choice to send either an ecard with money or just money with no card. You select a card, choose a friend to send it to and then select how much money to send.
“The PayPal and Facebook infrastructure have now merged,” PayPal’s Anuj Nayar says. “This is another way to personalize the act of giving money.”
While there are several ways to pay with PayPal via Facebook (Payvment comes to mind), this is the first app to enable peer-to-peer payments via Facebook and PayPal. And because it’s a peer-to-peer transaction, there is no transaction fee, though PayPal’s regular limits and international fees still apply.
“Sending money, person to person, is free,” PayPal Senior Product Marketing Manager JB Coutinho said. “If it’s funded by a PayPal balance or linked to a bank account, it’s free.”
And while the primary aspect of the Send Money app is its enablement of transactions across the world’s largest social network, the ecard aspect is being emphasized as well. PayPal was quick to point out that more than 500 million ecards are sent every year, and that’s why PayPal is offering dozens of choices for everything from birthdays to congratulations.
We can see the app really taking off. Users who see on Facebook that it’s a friend’s birthday can quickly fire up the app and send a card and some cash within a few minutes. The app is just as useful for things like lottery pools and reimbursing friends for lunch. It’s a big step toward making social payments a reality.
If you want to learn more about the PayPal Send Money Facebook App, we’ve created a simple walkthrough of the payment process. Check it out in the gallery below, and let us know what you think of the app in the comments.
The PayPal Send Money Facebook App
The Facebook app lets you send money and/or ecards to friends.
Choosing a Card
You can choose from dozens of different cards for special occasions, birthday and holidays.
Let's Choose a Card
I've chosen to send a money cupcake.
PayPal and Facebook Friends
Now it's time to pick a Facebook friend to send the card to. But first, PayPal needs access to my Facebook friends.
Choosing a Facebook Friend
In
this example, I am sending Mashable's Christina Warren some money. I
chose her from my Facebook friends, but I also need her email address,
since PayPal payments are tied to email.
Writing a Note
You can write a short note to your Facebook friend.
How Much Do You Want to Send?
This is the part where you choose how much you want to send. There is no fee if you pay via a PayPal balance or a bank account.
Confirm Payment
After logging into PayPal, you can send the money.
Payment Sent
Congrats!
Your payment and/or ecard have been sent. The card appears on your
friend's wall, but only you and your friend can see it.
PayPal Send Money Ecard
This is what a PayPal Send Money ecard looks like.
