WhatsApp has reportedly started its digital peer-to-peer Payments service available in India. At the moment, the service is for select WhatsApp beta users on iOS and Android. With this move, WhatsApp will compete with companies such as Paytm, Google Tez, PhonePe and MobiKwik.

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However, a report points out that for now, the Payments feature will only be available person-to-person based, which implies that the service will only be for regular WhatsApp users. Business users on the messaging platform will not be able to receive payments respectively.

The new ‘Payments’ feature can be accessed from the Chat window in the Attachments menu. You can then click on Payments, which will then prompt you to link to your UPI. GizmoTimes points out that users who haven’t made a UPI account earlier will have to head to a UPI app or the bank’s website respectively.

At present, WhatsApp has a customer base of around 200 million users, due to which experts believe that if the payment feature will go live, that will be the much needed punch to the digital transactions in the country.

Recently, Facebook-owned WhatsApp also rolled out ‘WhatsApp Business’ in India for Android users. The app is now available for download on the Google Play Store. At the moment, the app is not available for iOS users but is expected to arrive soon.

The app will provide features such as auto responses, creating a business profile, chat migration and analytics. Users will also be able to register a landline number for WhatsApp Business. This seems to be a great move as most people would not like to share their personal contact number with customers. Businesses can also set ‘Away’ automated responses, which customers will receive while when they are trying to contact you and you are not available.

In India, WhatsApp is stated to help almost 80 percent of small businesses to help communicate with customers and grow their business.