WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new feature tailored for its Indian user base, aiming to facilitate international payments through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) within the app. The disclosure came from a tipster named AssembleDebug on X (formerly Twitter).
The anticipated feature, dubbed ‘International Payments’, is poised to empower users possessing Indian bank accounts to transfer funds to designated international merchants and execute transactions. However, this functionality will be contingent upon the availability of international UPI services by banks in the respective countries. A leaked screenshot shared by the tipster hints at the need for manual activation of the international payment feature. Users might be required to specify the duration for which they wish to utilize this feature, extending up to three months according to the informant, a departure from Google Pay’s seven-day transaction window. Notably, other prominent UPI players in India, such as Google Pay and PhonePe, have already integrated similar services. It’s important to note that neither WhatsApp nor other beta testers have officially confirmed the existence of this feature, warranting cautious interpretation of the provided information.
The purported inclusion of this feature by WhatsApp is expected to simplify international transactions for its users. Notably, WhatsApp initially introduced in-app UPI payments for Indian users in November 2020. The international payment feature is currently in the development phase and is anticipated to undergo testing by a limited number of beta users. However, it has yet to be made available to the broader user base, and further details regarding its rollout are awaited as the release date nears.
WhatsApp is evidently concentrating on expanding its market share in the digital payments sphere in India. Additionally, the company is trialing another feature aimed at enhancing the efficiency of payments compared to the existing version. As per WABetaInfo, the application is experimenting with a new placement for a shortcut to the QR code scanner, relocating it above the chat list for easier access.
In summary, WhatsApp’s reported development of an international payment feature via UPI for Indian users underscores the company’s commitment to catering to the evolving needs of its user base in one of its key markets. While details remain speculative and await official confirmation, the potential introduction of such a feature could significantly augment the platform’s utility for users engaging in cross-border transactions.
