What major change occurred in 2007 regarding Discover Card acquiring?

In 2007, Discover Card made a significant shift to an indirect acquiring model. This change marked a transition from handling its merchant relationships directly to working through third-party processors or acquiring banks. This strategic decision enabled Discover to leverage the existing infrastructures of established acquirers, enhancing its market presence and expanding its capabilities in the competitive payment processing landscape. By utilizing indirect acquiring, Discover could focus more on cardholder experience and brand growth, while relying on partners to handle the intricacies of merchant relationships and transaction processing.

The other options do not accurately reflect the events of that year. For instance, the shift to a direct issuing model implies a more independent approach that was not the focus of Discover’s strategy at that time. The introduction of digital cards only would suggest a complete discontinuation of physical cards, which was not the case. Lastly, a partnership with Visa would denote a collaboration that was not characteristic of Discover's business decisions in 2007. Thus, the primary focus on indirect acquiring in this period signifies a strategic pivot aimed at broadening Discover's reach in the payments industry.