WhatsApp recently released a new beta version for Android 2.17.295 of their app under their beta program. The update itself didn’t contain any visible features or changes. However, according to a report from WABetaInfo, they uncovered hidden hints within this beta version of the app. The hints pointed to an upcoming feature within the app called WhatsApp payments: “the immediate bank to bank transfer with UPI”.
The feature is still hidden as it is still under development. For people to use WhatsApp payments if they end up coming, they will have to accept the new WhatsApp Payments and Bank Terms and Privacy Policy. Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transaction system is similar to RTGS but from my brief research on how it is being used in India, it seems like UPI is faster and more reliable. It’s no surprise that a feature like this would use a standard for transfers that’s already in use in India. This is because, India is one of the large markets where WhatsApp is widely popular and used.
We recently talked about how bank queues could be shortened if WhatsApp was utilized. The article outlined how banks could place people in a schedule for service through the app. The person would be then notified of the time that they would need to come. This would result in a more efficient and organized way of facilitating banking services at a branch.
That utilization of the app in that way is great and I wonder why banks locally haven’t started using it. If this feature of payments in WhatsApp does come, could it be a useful thing for banks? It seems like it could be but more investigation into it would need to be conducted. More importantly, this feature will probably be one way that Facebook will monetize WhatsApp.
It’s also unclear how much WhatsApp will charge for doing these bank transfers from their application. However, it might not be high as the UPI transaction system that they will be using is free of charges according to an implementation of the method in India. If it turns out that it is not that much, would you consider doing payments in the app or it’s not even an option? Let us know what you think in the comments sections.
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6 comments
I would consider making payments using the App. Given the liquidity crisis here in Zimbabwe this system could really be useful.
It wouldn’t add any value if its only for moving the rtgs/bond balances around. I am hoping for some kind of international whatsapp financial institution where value is stored in real dollars or euros and money can be sent from any place to any place on earth. TransferWise might be working on a better solution
The answer to your request would be To look at having a bitcoin wallet and fund it with some bitcoin that way your money gains value and can be sent anywhere in the world provided the receiver has a bitcoin wallet .
I also prefare an international whatsup transfare platform in this globalised village for easy movement of remittances across nations and easy trade transactions(outflows and inflows across nations)
If this is true the dominance of ecocash would be under treat.
But these features have already been implemented by WeChat….. they are copying from other apps