Today in the Connected Economy: T-Mobile Previews 5G Payments

Today in the connected economy, T-Mobile’s Chris Melus talks to PYMNTS about the ways 5G technology can transform the in-store experience. Also, card issuance and management platform Highnote expands its partnership with Visa, and Moove, Suzuki and MUFG collaborate to promote financial inclusion in Africa.

T-Mobile Says 5G and Embedded Payments Set to Unlock New Connected Retail Experiences

5G tech is set to transform whole industries, and in some cases is already doing so, Chris Melus, vice president of product development, advanced wireless solutions at T-Mobile for Business, said in an interview with PYMNTS.

Among a number of promising use cases, Melus said 5G can alter the in-store experience by ending the days of needing an associate and not being able to find one.

“Wouldn’t it be great if you could virtually talk to another associate at another location who maybe isn’t as busy?” he said. “You can bring that experience and have people come all the way across the country and be there and help a customer without having them have to wait so they can quickly go out.”

Highnote Expands Collab With Visa, Certifies as Issuer Processor

Card issuance and management platform Highnote has become a fully certified Visa issuer processor as it expands its partnership with the payments giant.

The company also finished the Visa Ready certification and is set to join the Visa Fintech Fast Track program as an enabler in the U.S. market.

Based in Silicon Valley and co-founded in 2020, Highnote’s fully integrated tech stack offers every service a company needs to find new ways to use card payments.

Virtual and physical payment cards, ledger and wallet capabilities can be embedded into a digital firm’s existing products, “creating compelling value for users while growing revenue and building a unique and differentiated brand,” the company said in a news release.

Moove, Suzuki, MUFG Team to Promote Financial Inclusion for Gig Workers

Mobility FinTech Moove has joined forces with Japanese financial services company MUFG and carmaker Suzuki to drive financial inclusion among gig workers in Africa.

“Moove … aims to advance financial inclusion and job creation as well as upskilling opportunities in the sector,” with the partnership, which was signed at the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, and is one the first to involve a FinTech company from Africa.

“Moove’s alternative credit scoring technology will enable access to vehicle financing to mobility entrepreneurs, backed by the strength of MUFG’s financial services capabilities and Suzuki’s expertise in supplying durable, high performance and fuel-efficient vehicles,” the companies said in a news release.

B2B Marketplace Wasoko, Zanzibar Team to Build Innovation Hub

In a bid to make Zanzibar a tech hub, B2B eCommerce marketplace Wasoko has partnered with that country’s government to open an innovation center on the island.

The Wasoko Innovation Hub is a private-public partnership and part of a government initiative called Silicon Zanzibar, which has the goal of drawing tech companies and more than 500 industry professionals to the island, according to a press release.

“Through our new partnership, we’re proud to be working alongside a government which is heavily invested in supporting this mission and are honored to be a founding partner for Silicon Zanzibar,” said Wasoko CEO and Founder Daniel Yu. “We strongly believe Wasoko will be the first in a long line of tech companies to establish a presence on the island.”