African digital payments company Interswitch has announced a partnership with BlackBerry that has led to the launch of the Quickteller Mini App.

The app allows BBM users with a Nigerian bank account to request money, airtime and payment for services from their BBM contacts. The app is available for Android, BlackBerry and iOS devices.

According to Interswitch, the service allows BBM users in Nigeria to be paid via Quickteller in a secure and user-friendly way.

"This 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," the company said in a statement.

Mitchell Elegbe, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Interswitch confirms the company's positioning in Africa's digital payments space.

"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."

Matthew Talbot, Senior Vice President, Emerging Solutions at BlackBerry says combining the strengths of BlackBerry and Interswitch has resulted in the development of a service that puts Nigeria at the forefront of mobile payments and commerce innovations.

"BBM is one of the most popular messaging applications in Nigeria," said Matthew Talbot, SVP Emerging Solutions at BlackBerry. "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."