WhatsApp Will Soon Let You Send & Receive Money From Within The App, With UPI Support Built In
The latest beta version of the app contained mention of what could be a way to transfer money to contacts from within the app.
The next time your buddy has to send you a chat reminding you to pay him for the drinks he covered the other night, you'll be able to do that without even exiting the app. That¡¯s because WhatsApp is introducing an online payment feature built right into the app.
WABetaInfo first spotted that the new beta version of WhatsApp contains a hidden mention for a payment feature implementation. What¡¯s more, the message screenshot indicates the platform will actually be using UPI, India¡¯s Unified Payment Interface.
If the information is correct, transactions through WhatsApp will be some of the easiest ever. UPI works instantaneously, like IMPS protocol, and uses a virtual payment address linked through your Aadhaar-registered bank account. That means you¡¯ll just need your unique code, and not your account number and IFSC.
Additionally, Ajay Kumar, the additional secretary for the Ministry of Electronics and IT, tweeted a few days ago what seems to be confirmation of this news.
Proposed @WhatsApp payment system in India to be powered by @NPCI_BHIM app.
¡ª Ajay Kumar (@drajaykumar_ias) August 6, 2017
Other messaging apps have already introduced their own forms of in-app payments, but WhatsApp is by far the most popular choice in India. Additionally, using the home-grown UPI platform will not only draw users proud to use the system, but may also turn out to be convenient. Of course, we¡¯ll only know for sure whether it¡¯s actually better than current payment methods, if and when the feature launches.
