Visa has unveiled a suite of new digital-first products and services that it claims will revolutionise the card and address the future needs of businesses, merchants and consumers and the financial institutions that serve them

Set for roll out over the coming, year, the new product roadmap was unveiled at the annual Visa Payments Forum in San Francisco.

“The industry is at a pivotal point – new technologies like Gen AI are rapidly shifting how we shop and manage our finances,” says Jack Forestell, chief product and strategy officer, Visa. “We’re announcing the next generation of truly digital-native payment card experiences. Today we unveiled new card features and digital innovations that will bring consumers into a more customized, convenient and secure future.”

The new products and services include Visa Flexible Credentials, which will allow a single card product to toggle between payment methods, enabling users to set parameters or choose whether they use debit, credit, ‘pay-in-four’ with buy now, pay late,r or pay using rewards points. Visa Flexible Credential is live in Asia and will be launching with Affirm later this summer in the US.

Visa is also introducing a slew of new ways to use the card when tapped on a mobile device, such as: Tap to Confirm: Easily authenticates identity when shopping online; Tap to Add Card: Enhances security when adding card into a wallet or app; Tap to P2P (person-to-person): Allows money to be sent between family and friends

MTN Nigeria has announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft, providing advanced data hosting solutions and Microsoft Business Licenses to small and medium enterprises. This development is in line with the company’s commitment to accelerate the digitalisation of businesses, leveraging robust and reliable connectivity, in Nigeria.

This collaboration leverages Microsoft’s Azure Cloud platform to offer customers a comprehensive suite of services, blending flexibility, scalability, and security. This includes Virtual Machine (VM) Hosting, which enables the instant generation of virtual machines to address specific workload requirements, and Azure Virtual Desktop, (formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop).Azure Virtual Desktop brings added value by providing tailored features for enterprise environments and Azure Backup that stands out as a key offering, addressing critical data protection needs in today’s cybersecurity landscape.

Also included is Microsoft Business Licenses, integrated with Office applications, and offering a range of benefits for businesses. This comprehensive solution includes efficient employee management for a limitless number of employees, personalised custom business email addresses, a mobile-ready Office suite for seamless productivity on the web and across multiple devices, and a unified communication platform using Microsoft Teams for effective collaboration through chat, calls, and video conferences.

Commenting on the solutions, Lynda Saint-Nwafor, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, MTN Nigeria, noted, “This collaboration enables organisations of all sizes, from large enterprises to small businesses and public sector organisations, to scale efficiently, optimise infrastructure, and meet performance objectives within budget. In today’s digital era, cloud solutions are not just a luxury but a necessity. Leveraging the resilience and backup strategies of Microsoft Business Licenses and Azure Cloud platform alongside MTN’s infrastructure ensures uninterrupted operations and propels growth for our diverse range of customers.”

“Our partnership with Microsoft seamlessly integrates their services with MTN’s robust infrastructure and reliable data network to handle workload and digital applications, aimed at driving progress and success for all the customer segments we serve,” she added.

“At Microsoft, we believe in driving innovation through strategic partnerships,” stated Ola Williams, Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria, and Ghana. “Our collaboration with MTN Nigeria represents our commitment to empowering businesses with scalable and secure cloud solutions that enable growth and resilience in today’s digital economy.”

The Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijanni, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nokia Solutions and Networks Nigeria, to train young Nigerians on latest 4G/ 5G radio and transmission technologies at the Nigerian Communications Commission’s Digital Parks. 

Nokia Nigeria would be setting up a fully functional 5G/4G test lab, leveraging their latest radio and transmission technologies. This collaboration advances the vision to enhance the capacity and skills-set of Nigerians, by equipping them with contemporary skills and knowledge needed to adapt to the rapidly evolving telecommunications industry. 

In tune with the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s goal to drive digital literacy and build a pipeline of technical talents across Nigeria, Nokia Nigeria would also set up an Entrepreneur Learning Programme where it would deliver high-quality vocational trainings to 200 Nigerian students chosen from across the six geo political zones of Nigeria.