WhatsApp is apparently developing a new feature for users located in India. This feature is anticipated to permit users to conduct bill payments through the messaging platform. In November 2020, WhatsApp launched the capability to send and receive money using the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) to a select group of users within the country. Recently, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) lifted the UPI onboarding limit for the Meta-owned platform, enabling it to expand its payment offerings to all users in India.
WhatsApp Users May Soon be Able to Make Direct Bill Payments
WhatsApp is in the process of developing a new feature that will allow users in India to settle bill payments, which was uncovered during an APK teardown by Android Authority. The feature was observed to be under development in the WhatsApp beta for Android version 2. 25. 3. 15. This indicates that the Meta-owned application is keen on broadening its financial services in the country.
The report implies that the new feature will likely allow users to make direct bill payments via the WhatsApp app. The bill payment categories that may be supported could include electricity bills, mobile prepaid recharges, LPG gas payments, water bills, landline postpaid bills, and rent payments, according to the report.
Currently, the bill payment option is still in development, but an empty activity for it has already been incorporated into the previously mentioned beta version of WhatsApp, as per the report. There is no known timeline for release as of now, but it is anticipated to be accessible to beta testers in India prior to being launched on the stable update channel.
The publication indicates that the platform may encounter some regulatory or logistical obstacles before the service is launched in India. WhatsApp presently permits users to conduct UPI payments to friends and businesses.
Furthermore, the report highlights that this new feature was identified following the NPCI’s removal of the user onboarding cap for WhatsApp Pay, allowing it to compete directly with specific payment platforms like PhonePe and Google Pay. Last year, the Meta-owned messaging application was seen testing an option that would enable users to execute international payments from the app.
