WhatsApp, the ubiquitous messaging platform owned by Meta, is reportedly working on a game-changing feature that could revolutionize international money transfers for Indian users. According to recent leaks, the app is developing an “International Payments” functionality that would enable users with Indian bank accounts to send money abroad via the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
For the uninitiated, UPI is a real-time payment system developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) that facilitates inter-bank peer-to-peer and person-to-merchant transactions. While UPI has been a runaway success within India’s borders, enabling seamless digital payments, its cross-border capabilities have remained limited thus far.
WhatsApp’s proposed international payments feature could change that. If implemented, it would allow Indian users to transfer funds to select international merchants and recipients, as long as the destination country’s banks support incoming UPI transactions. This could unlock new avenues for remittances, e-commerce purchases, and other cross-border financial dealings directly within the WhatsApp interface.
The leaked screenshots suggest that the international payments option would require manual activation by the user, potentially with validity periods of up to three months – a stark contrast to Google Pay’s current seven-day transaction window for international fund transfers via UPI.
It’s worth noting that other major UPI players in India, such as Google Pay and PhonePe, already offer international remittance services through the same underlying infrastructure. However, WhatsApp’s implementation could be a game-changer given the app’s massive userbase of over 400 million in India alone.
While the international payments feature hasn’t been officially confirmed by WhatsApp or corroborated by other beta testers, its development aligns with the company’s broader push into the digital payments space in India. WhatsApp Pay, the app’s UPI-based payments service for domestic transactions, rolled out in November 2020 after a prolonged regulatory tussle.
If international payments do materialize, it could further solidify WhatsApp’s position in India’s digital payments landscape, where it competes with incumbents like Paytm, Google Pay, and PhonePe. The sheer convenience of conducting cross-border transfers without leaving the WhatsApp ecosystem could be a significant draw for users.
Moreover, leaks suggest WhatsApp is testing other payments-related improvements, such as repositioning the QR code scanner shortcut for a smoother checkout experience. These enhancements underscore the company’s commitment to refining its payments offerings continuously.
As with any leak or rumor, it’s advisable to take this information with a pinch of salt until official confirmation from WhatsApp. However, if the international payments feature does materialize as described, it could open up exciting new possibilities for Indian users looking to navigate the world of global finance from within their favorite messaging app.
