WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new feature aimed at users in India, which will enable them to make bill payments directly through the messaging platform. The introduction of this feature follows the rollout of the Unified Payment Interface (UPI) for select users in November 2020, allowing them to send and receive money. Recently, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) lifted the UPI onboarding cap for WhatsApp, potentially allowing the app to expand its payment services to all users across the country.
WhatsApp to Introduce Bill Payment Capability for Indian Users
Details about the upcoming feature emerged from an APK teardown conducted by Android Authority. It reveals that the capability is currently being developed in the WhatsApp beta, specifically version 2.25.3.15 for Android. This suggests a strategic move by the Meta-owned application to broaden its array of financial services within the Indian market.
According to reports, the new feature will likely facilitate direct bill payments within the WhatsApp app. Users could have the ability to pay various types of bills, which may include electricity, mobile prepaid recharges, LPG gas payments, water bills, landline postpaid bills, and even rent, among others.
Although the feature is still in its developmental stage, an initial placeholder for it has already been incorporated into the beta version of WhatsApp. The timeline for an official release remains uncertain, but anticipation is that beta testers in India will access the feature before it becomes available in the stable release.
The rollout of this feature may face regulatory or logistical hurdles, according to industry observers. Presently, WhatsApp allows users to make UPI payments to both individuals and businesses, which may help ease the transition to bill payments.
Furthermore, the report highlights that the new development comes after the NPCI’s recent decision to remove the user onboarding limit on WhatsApp Pay. This positions the platform to compete more effectively against established payment services such as PhonePe and Google Pay. Additionally, there were indications last year that WhatsApp has been exploring options for enabling international payments through the app.
