According to WABetaInfo blog, WhatsApp for Android 2.17.285 beta version comes with a hidden page in the app for the payment feature. The blog post contains a screenshot of the feature. From the image, it is now clear that WhatsApp will allow bank to bank transfer using UPI (Unified Payment Interface) as it reads “the immediate bank to bank transfer with UPI”. Earlier, it was reported that WhatsApp was planning to introduce payments feature in the coming six months. The Facebook-owned company was in talks with SBI and NPCI to integrate the UPI feature in its app. But, now it seems we can see the digital payment feature very soon. Mobile payments have been on a rise since last year’s demonetisation. In such scenario, digital payments app Paytm has seen major growth in terms of transactions and its user base. It is to be mentioned, as WhatsApp is entering into payments, Paytm is planning to introduce its messaging feature. WhatsApp is not the only app that is entering into digital payments. Several other popular services such as messaging app Hike and Truecaller already support UPI payment services. However, this move from WhatsApp, the most popular app in India with over 200 million active users, will surely give a boost to digital payments in India.
