Interswitch, a leading digital payments and commerce provider focused on Africa, has launched an integration of its Quickteller services with BlackBerry’s BBM via a new app called Quickteller Mini.
The service is available for smartphones running Android, BlackBerry and IOS.
With the partnership, BBM users with a Nigerian bank account can make a request for money, airtime and payment for services from one of their BBM contacts.
The Quickteller Mini App enables this in a secure and user-friendly way.
The group managing director/chief executive officer of Interswitch, Mitchell Elegbe explained that the service is as easy as sharing a photo or file while chatting with a contact on BBM.
You simply select the attachment option, choose Quickteller, enter the amount and make a request. The recipient of the message simply taps it and enters their account details. The money is credited to the recipient’s bank account instantly, he said.
Elegbe noted that, “person-to-Person transfers and electronic airtime recharge present a growing market opportunity in Nigeria. We are delighted to bring our secure payment services to BBM users in Nigeria. This partnership demonstrates how Interswitch continues to innovate and push the boundaries in African payments whilst enhancing the customer experience.
Commenting on the service also, Matthew Talbot, Senior Vice President Emerging Solutions at BlackBerry said “BBM is one of the most popular messaging applications in Nigeria. This new mobile payment service demonstrates how we have effectively evolved BBM from the best real-time chat experience to a true social engagement and e-commerce platform. By combining the strengths of BlackBerry and Interswitch, we have developed a service that puts Nigeria at the forefront of mobile payments and commerce innovations.”
The Quickteller Mini App is now available via free download from BlackBerry World, Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store.
Quickteller is the leading multi-channel payments platform in Nigeria with over 3 million subscribers offering airtime recharge, bill payments and funds transfer via Web, Mobile (App & USSD), ATMs, POS and Agents.