The new UPI payment feature of WhatsApp opens up a whole new dimension for Indian users

February 15, 2018

Recently WhatsApp introduced payment option for its Indian users through the UPI (Unified payment interface) feature. WhatsApp has more than a billion users who are active and a large portion of this number, nearly 250 million or more is present in India. Therefore, the introduction of payment feature is a very big transformative step for this instant messaging giant in India.  It has tied-up with some banking majors to facilitate this facility for its users. Transfer of money feature has been introduced to begin with and it is expected that more features will be added for the Indian users of WhatsApp.  Here are some features which will give you some insights about this feature:

  • This feature is available for Android and Apple phone users
  • At present you can transfer money only through the linked bank accounts and that too to a single WhatsApp user at a time. You cannot use WhatsApp UPI feature to make bulk transfer to a group of people.
  • When you install it, you are taken to a disclaimer tab, where you need to select a bank from the ones listed there in order to start the linking process. A PIN will be required to authenticate the account linking process
  • The mobile number registered in your bank and the WhatsApp number has to match, in order for this feature to work. If you are using dual sim cards in your mobile then you have to ensure the linking of number for this feature.
  • WhatsApp doesn’t allow you to transfer money to other e-wallet platforms like Paytm, Mobikwik, Vodafone M Pesa, Airtel Money etc.
  • You cannot use the money to buy you favourite food, shoes or salon treatment. Hence, besides money transfer there is nothing else that you can do for now.
  • The payment transfer feature will work only if you and the person with who you wish to transact, have the latest version of WhatsApp, otherwise this facility won’t function. Another catch to the situation is that both sender and receiver of the money have to activate the feature. Therefore, just installing the latest version will not help, WhatsApp seeks consent by asking for activation of this feature.

Besides Paytm, Mobikwik, M Pessa, Airtel Money, some other popular UPI based e-payment options are Google Tez. It is believed that Facebook is also working on e-payment feature and will soon introduce it for the users.