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WhatsApp continues to expand beyond traditional messaging, with several major updates attracting attention among users in India. The Meta-owned platform has recently introduced bill payments, strengthened account security and continued developing new artificial-intelligence features.
Key Headlines
- WhatsApp has launched bill payments in India.
- Users can access more than 22,700 billers.
- Electricity, gas, water and FASTag payments are supported.
- New security features strengthen WhatsApp account protection.
- WhatsApp is testing new AI and calling features.
- The platform continues expanding beyond basic messaging.
Bill Payments Arrive in India
One of WhatsApp’s biggest recent updates in India is the introduction of Bill Payments. The feature allows users to find, manage and pay household bills directly inside the messaging application. It is powered by the Bharat Connect, or BBPS, network and provides access to 22,722 billers across 30 categories.
Supported categories include electricity, gas, water, FASTag, insurance, credit cards and loan repayments. Users can access the feature by tapping the rupee icon at the top of the WhatsApp home screen, selecting a biller, entering their account information and choosing a payment method.
The service is being rolled out gradually across India and is expected to become available to Android and iOS users over the coming weeks.
The move strengthens WhatsApp’s position as an all-purpose digital platform in India, where users already rely on the app for communication, business services, payments and access to citizen services.
Stronger Security for Users
WhatsApp has also announced new account-security measures. Its updated two-step verification system now supports a stronger password instead of the previous six-digit PIN. The company says the change is intended to make accounts more difficult for attackers to take over.
WhatsApp is also providing additional information when users receive calls from people who are not saved in their contacts. On Android, users may see information such as whether the caller is from another country or whether they share a group.
The company has also highlighted passkeys, saying more than one billion people have already set up a passkey for WhatsApp. Passkeys allow users to verify their identity using methods such as a fingerprint, face recognition or device screen lock.
WhatsApp’s AI Future
Artificial intelligence is becoming another important part of WhatsApp’s development. Recent reports indicate that the platform is exploring third-party AI-agent conversations, while Meta has also introduced its new Muse personal AI assistant across WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook.
These developments suggest that WhatsApp is evolving from a messaging service into a wider platform for communication, payments, services and AI-powered assistance.
