Microsoft launches Xbox Live credit card

HOW TYPICAL of Microsoft. Half of Germany doesn't have a credit card, so it goes and makes one for them so they can buy Microsoft products.

In Germany, the penetration rate for credit cards is not as high as in other parts of the western world and so as a consequence things such as online retailing have not taken off quite as quickly there.

Unhappy with this Microsoft has launched a pre-paid Xbox Live credit card for German teenagers of 14+, and it doesn't have bad terms to boot - no yearly fees, two per cent interest on the prepaid balance and the card works like a normal Visa card.

If they can't come to paradise, bring paradise to them. µ