WhatsApp Pay: WhatsApp to launch its very own Payment feature, here's how to use it

WhatsApp has revolutionized the way we used to converse. It has also been the reason behind the death of Text Messaging market. WhatsApp today is the first app that a user installs on buying a new mobile phone. However, in order to integrate our lives even more to it, WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will let users send digital payments to their friends and family just like you send photos and attachments.

If the tests go well, WhatsApp could roll out the feature to users across the globe. The new system works on widely-used digital payments system developed by a UPI. A similar tool was introduced to Facebook's Messenger app in 2015.

India happens to be the world's largest in terms of WhatsApp users with over 200 million users across the country using the app daily. If you've linked your bank account to your mobile phone number, you'll now be able to use the messaging application to transfer and receive money.

In order to use WhatsApp's payment facility, one should have a phone number that uses Indian country code and a bank account with a bank that supports UPI payments.

If you satisfy the necessary pre-conditions and wish to avail the service, search for a 'Payments' tab in the 'Settings' drop-down within the application and in case you can't find the payment options, do not fret as this can be fixed very easily. All you need to do is find someone who has got his payment service activated and ask him to send you funds using the WhatsApp payment service.

Once you've selected the 'Payments' option, you'll run through a series of steps:

- Add a bank account. The application will then give you the option of adding a new account. You'll be asked to accept the terms and privacy policy of WhatsApp Payments. Please, be sure to go through these.

- You will then be asked to verify your phone number with an SMS. After a few seconds, a list of bank accounts linked to your mobile number will show up.

Simply select any one to continue.

- Then verify the debit card that's linked to your bank account.

- And finally, you'll have to enter a one-time password that will be sent to your mobile number and choose a UPI PIN, which you will use each time you transact.

Also read: From Communal violence to Demonetisation, a brief analysis of PM Modi's 'Achhe din'