Amazon launches in-app P2P service in India

Amazon has continued its investment in India with the launch of P2P payments on Amazon Pay which allows users to settle bills and expenses with friends and family.

Customers can also make payments from their bank account to local shops or to Amazon delivery people on their doorstep by scanning QR codes using the Amazon app.

The tech is built on the government of India’s backed UPI platform, a regulated platform, and will be added to the company’s existing Android app.

Amazon have been making inroads in wider finance in India for a while; in 2018 Amazon partnered with bank ICICI to launch its Amazon Pay credit card (currently in beta) which gives 5 per cent cashback on Amazon products.
Other Western firms active in the P2P sector in India include Google, Paytm and mobile messaging firm Hike.

Vikas Bansal, director of Amazon Pay said, “Our goal is to make Amazon Pay the most trusted, convenient and rewarding way to pay for our customers. The customers trust their Amazon app and we continue to expand payment use cases directly on the app. With this launch, we have the largest selection of shopping and payment use cases on the Amazon Android app which provides added convenience and control to our customers.

“Amazon customers can make instant bank to bank transfers through the ‘Send Money’ or ‘Request Money’ link on through their Amazon Android app.”