Publisher-sponsored in-game commerce platform PlaySpan has officially expanded its open beta to users of K2 Networks' MMORPG Global Mu Online. K2's users can now check out PlaySpan's platform directly through K2's game portal, GamersFirst.

PlaySpan is one of a few emerging tools that aims to provide a secure platform for player-to-player game transactions by integrating with the game's publisher, usually through the backend. The view surrounding technology like this is that publisher sanction and support for in-game commerce using a designated toolset will reduce fraud and protect players.

The two companies announced earlier this year that Global Mu would be the site of the PlaySpan open beta; prior to that, PlaySpan execs have said they're happy with the response the platform is getting in the Asia-Pacific region.

The company also announced a partnership with social avatar site Urbaniacs late in 2007. PlaySpan had announced VC funding to the tune of $6.5 million just prior to that, and at that time said it had already signed up 7 MMOs; it's unclear if Urbaniacs (which isn't an MMO) was one of those seven partnerships, or what other companies they're working with besides K2.

Said K2 CEO Joshua Hong, "We are committed to bring new and innovative ways to better serve our gamer community and integrating PlaySpan’s player-2-player commerce network is a great way to expand our overall service offerings. PlaySpan is built from the ground-up to provide highly secured and scalable microtransactions and we believe that this is the next generation of solutions to improve fight against fraud and game-balance issues faced by game developers and publishers worldwide.”