Meta's WhatsApp adds rival payment services in app in India; launches Flows
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Meta Platforms' (NASDAQ:META) WhatsApp is adding UPI, debit and credit card payment services from rival digital payment providers within its app in India.
The announcement was made at Meta's Conversations Conference in Mumbai, India.
The company noted that people in India can add items to their cart and send a payment using from all supported UPI apps â India's instant money transfer system â debit and credit cards, and more, of their choice.
Meta is working with partners Razorpay and PayU to make payments as simple as sending a message, according to the company.
WhatsApp has more than 500M users in India, however, regulators there have capped its in-app WhatsApp Pay service. In April 2022, WhatsApp received approval from the National Payments Corporation of India to expand the payment service to 100M users.
People shopping on WhatsApp can also pay using services such as Alphabet's (GOOG) (GOOGL) Google Pay, Paytm Mobile Solutions (PAYTM) and Walmart's (WMT) PhonePe but after being redirected outside WhatsApp.
In addition, Meta said it is launching Flows, through which businesses can offer more services such as choosing a train seat, ordering food or booking an appointment all without leaving the chat.
The company will make Flows available to businesses globally using the WhatsApp Business Platform in the coming weeks.
Meta also announced that it will soon expand Meta Verified to businesses on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp after having rolled out the feature for creators in March.

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