After introducing WhatsApp Pay, the Meta-owned instant messaging platform is reportedly working on a new feature that will allow users to make bill payments, similar to UPI applications. According to an Android Authority report, the feature can be found in WhatsApp beta version 2.25.3. 15.
HIGHLIGHTS
The feature was spotted in WhatsApp beta version 2.25.3.15, hinting at an upcoming rollout.
Users may soon be able to pay utility bills and rent directly through WhatsApp.
Meta will compete with UPI giants like PhonePe and Google Pay but may still face regulatory hurdles.
Until now, WhatsApp allows users to send money to their contacts. The report suggests that users will soon be able to pay their electricity bills, mobile prepaid recharges, LPG gas payments, water bills, landline postpaid bills, and rent payments. According to the report, the feature is currently being developed after an empty bill payment activity was discovered in the most recent beta version.
However, as of the writing of this article, WhatsApp had not acknowledged the development of such a feature. Furthermore, there is no official word on the exact release date.
This update comes after the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) lifted the limit on WhatsApp Pay user onboarding. Previously, the platform could only add users in stages, limiting its growth. But now that the restrictions have been lifted, WhatsApp Pay has the potential to attract a massive 532 million users. With this, Meta’s messaging platform will compete directly with existing UPI platforms such as PhonePe and Google Pay.
According to the latest report, Meta may still face regulatory approvals and logistical challenges before introducing this feature to the general public. It is possible that WhatsApp will soon introduce the feature, resulting in yet another revenue stream. However, exact details about how it will work, commissions (such as PhonePe and Google Pay), and the release date are unknown. The remaining details should be available in the coming weeks. Until then, stay tuned to GemCode for the latest tech news.