WhatsApp has launched a new feature allowing Indian users to recharge prepaid mobile numbers directly within the app, targeting major telecom operators Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea. Powered by PayU, the service is rolling out in phases across Android and iOS, with full availability expected in coming weeks.
Users access the feature via a new rupee (₹) icon on the home screen or within chats. Tapping it opens the payments section, where they select “Mobile Prepaid Recharge,” enter a number own or another’s confirm the operator, choose a plan and pay using UPI, debit or credit cards.
The addition builds on WhatsApp’s existing payments ecosystem, including UPI transfers and metro ticketing, aiming to streamline high-frequency transactions without app-switching. The rupee icon serves as a central hub for these services.
Meta’s move comes amid intense competition in India’s digital payments market, where rivals dominate UPI volumes. WhatsApp, with hundreds of millions of users in the country, seeks to leverage daily habits for greater adoption.
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