WhatsApp to implement UPI-based payment system in India

Prasad, 06 April 2017

Facebook-owned WhatsApp is finally throwing its hat in the online payment system, starting first with India, its biggest market in the world.

The company is said to be working on a system based on India’s UPI or Unified Payments Interface to allow person to person transactions. The UPI system was borne out of India’s drive towards a cashless digital economy and has been adopted by all the major banks and even some services such as Truecaller.

Facebook currently has a job opening for Digital Transactions Lead, India in Menlo Park, California, with one of the job requirements being ‘Ability to understand and explain UPI, BHIM, Aadhar number’.

Speaking to Bloomberg, WhatsApp said it wants to “contribute more to India’s vision for digital commerce.” While India might be the first market on WhatsApp’s roadmap it will eventually bring this feature to other markets.

Source 1 • Source 2

Reader comments

Aminu Sule
16 Apr 2017
Nug

I want to download whatsapps on this my device.

rohan
07 Apr 2017
bEQ

hi....any body suggest any idea? I am right now travelling in china.suddenely my mobiled hanged and whats app uninstall totally.Then again i am install the whatapp.But he was obetating otp and my mobile was not in use beacuse i am in internationl r...

Anonymous
07 Apr 2017
rJx

You may be from outside India. UPI is way more convenient than even cards and is meant to be way more pervasive. It is like giving and taking of cash between individuals, except that the money is directly transferred from / to individuals' bank acco...