WhatsApp Payment: We got another mode to pay

When you get to know about "WhatsApp Payment" the first thing will come to your mind is "What will "Paytm" do now ?" and the reason is - before E-Wallets for youths was a fun to transact and earn a cash back from it and now it is one of the essential mode of clearing the dues. No doubt after demonetization Paytm was the front runner to motivate youths to use their platform to pay rather then standing in the long queues of Bank or ATM. Other E-Wallets despite of open battleground remain dry as they didn't wants to risk themselves for the opportunity, one of the competitor of Paytm was even promoting their brand during demonetization by organizing a essay writing competition to gift their PR agents the trophy. Recently one of the small but emerging player in Wallets shut its door and all you got now is Paytm. Currently Paytm is going strong for a reason and that is their reach among small merchant to big corporate but their push for Paytm Bank may cost their dominance soon.

Image of WhatsApp Inc.

Ever since Airtel, Paytm, Kotak etc. got the license of payment banking their business focus has been shifted to their new venture, Paytm has merged their wallet business to the Bank it means soon it will no longer remain in the shape of standalone feature. Currently RBI has extended the KYC deadline of Mobile Wallets but soon Paytm will look to reboot their idol venture. WhatsApp's inclusion on Payment business are the first threat for Paytm since WhatsApp is the most used app among Indians and far more on regular basis then Paytm. WhatsApp's simplicity and its popularity are the key of the launch of their new feature compare to other apps who already got a scratchy start. Recently Google's launch of Tez was impressive but not so due to people's fear on experimenting much. Google was offering Rs. 40 for the 1st ever transaction on Tez and like its name it proven to be a lightning fast app on money transfer.

Google may be is impressive with Tez but they needs to remain ready to answer on "Why Tez ?". Google and Flipkart is one of the dominating internet giant in India similarly Tez, Flipkart got Phonepe which they acquired way back on 2016, unfortunately even after the acquisition Phonepe yet to make out on many's phone. All the new entrant in digital payment are UPI it means in terms of feature they are very similar to each other compare to the cosmetic changes which differentiate the application with each other, application which is simple and already popular will always have the extra edge. The reason Bhim is far behind then others due to their negligence on supporting bus, movie or train ticketing services etc. Flipkart never pushed Phonepe aggressively not even via Myntra or even via Jabong. Paytm continue to be a front runner on expanding the offers all the time. It will be very interesting that how Google will react on WhatsApp Payment.

One nice step taken by Facebook is to utilize the WhatsApp for Payment rather then their social networking site. WhatsApp is quite unique and offers more professionalism in nature which let their success story continue, surely post their trial run of Payment will either shake the industry or let NPCI regulates their service which owns UPI. New competition are already arisen despite digital Payment in its nascent stage. Good thing that internet giants are taking Indian market more seriously and exploring the new opportunity. More competition means more benefits for consumers in terms of offers and service and anyone will please to know about it. Currently WhatsApp Payment is working under invitational mode which is soon to be roll out for everyone, lets find out how to enable to feature and how to access it in the video below:

How to enable WhatsApp Payment ?

   

Author of this post is +Anirudha Das, he writes in Tech, Sports, Social, Politics, Business. Follow him on social media at @anirudhasdas

WhatsApp Text Status is back after taking a big time criticism

Finally after taking a blow WhatsApp Text Status is back on peoples high demand, when last time I wrote "WhatsApp Status rolls out: Its no more a Chatting App" I discussed on how Facebook wants to use WhatsApp to compete with Snapchat with their video, photo status feature. But after seeing criticism and dead response from the users, WhatsApp is back with what they abruptly removed to make their new feature famous. WhatsApp Text Status is back in a same place from where it was removed. Users just needs to update WhatsApp whenever they gets available in respective App Stores with latest version.

Image Credit: WhatsApp

Now users have two "Status" feature, one is the conventional Text Status which we used for different purposes, either as a 'Thought of Day or Month' or just to inform about availability with template status and now the new Photos, Videos, GIF Status which can be used to post your story for next 24 hours infront of contacts of yours who can respond on it, Read Here how it works. Although WhatsApp hurriedly implemented this feature to take a anger from the users but surely once added they will not take this back so easily. With new WhatsApp update they also added a feature by which users are now can send a new message to new contacts quite easily, before it was difficult and users had their own tricks to get it done.

Hence lets find out whats next in WhatsApp.

* When you open your WhatsApp, at bottom ride side you will get a green color circle indicated with new icon, click on that. (You will get such options in many chatting apps for different purposes. WhatsApp following the same for enhancing their chatting feature.)

* After clicking you will moved to another page, where you can find your contact list and at top "New Group". For chatting select your contact with whom you wants to chat for the first time. To create new group click on "New Group" and add atleast 1 participants to start it.

To create a Text Status

* Text Status is just like we used to have before, you needs to click on 3 dots in the top right hand side and select settings.

* Then you have different settings along with your profile photo and Text status you set before it taken off at the top.

* When you click on top it will move you to another page, where you can set your profile photo, set Text Status or changing of WhatsApp number.

* As usual now to set Text Status you have two options, one change with some template status which WhatsApp is set for you or set it on your own.

This is how you can now enjoy WhatsApp with a mixture of old and new with Text Status and New Status where you can post your Story for next 24 hours. Obviously many are fond of that story status but if not then WhatsApp made a arrangement of Text Status as well along with ease to start a new chat with contact list.

Author of this post is +Anirudha Das, he writes in Tech, Sports, Social, Politics, Business. Follow him on social media at @anirudhasdas

Skype Lite: The one such app everyone was waiting for

Well finally from Microsoft a must needed lighter version of Skype App launched, well they might be late in the already crowded market but still good for professionals who're sticking around with it. Launching the lighter version may not for High end professionals but to ensure the popularity of Skype which can grow further. Interesting thing is that Skype Lite launched exclusively for the Indian Market which indicates the importance of India in terms of "Consumer". Last year Facebook Lite launched to aim the Countries having slow Internet Connection though it was build concentrating India as per their strategy. Not only Speed but Indian youths having massive space issue in their phones as well, bunch of similar kind of apps are enough to consume very little given slot in the lower or mid range phone. To tackle this Companies are launching Lite weight apps which consumes less data, less storage and less RAM.

Image Credit: Microsoft

Skype Lite is not that lite still have a size of 13 MB and if its being pull down from some 90 MB which used to be the original size of Skype App at 2015 then hats off to Microsoft for this. Ever since Facebook Lite was introduced the need of most important apps to go lighter was increased as well. India is a fastest growing Country on Social Media, Millions of peoples are having Social Media or forced to have a Social Media Account in the current structure of modern era world, today most of the peoples are having different mail accounts, different social media accounts, different profiles and for maintaining those demand of Smart Phone are increased, mostly in India need of lower or mid range phones are increased hence to maintaining every profile in lesser specs either user have to compromise or company has to, even if the number of public Wifi are increasing that doesn't mean we have full authority to consume data as there to we have limitation in the given resources.

Indeed entry of Skype Lite is late to focus specially in India and they can't hide from taking a blow on this, now they have competition from Duos to WhatsApp and strain to work better or atleast remain as a first source for the people. When Youtube Go launched its main focus was to give a option to the users to save the video offline but the only plus for the app was preview of the video rest it can't be the alternative of current Youtube App. As per the experts that App of Youtube was nothing more but to keep the edge from a competition like Facebook or Instagram who're moving seriously on Video division, specially Facebook with their Live feature. after the growth of Facebook Live, Twitter decides to integrated with Periscope to give people a option of Live in the Main App itself. Facebook Live option is although not available in Facebook Lite App.

How to Start With in Skype Lite ?

Launching of Skype Lite is very easy, you just needs to follow the instruction and have to checkout the privacy settings as Skype Lite can read your contacts, call history and messages, then you have to login with your current Skype Account.

 

 

Key Points for Skype Lite

* This 13 MB App is capable to work in lower internet mainly in 2G, so as per the speed whenever user will get a decent speed Video Call will convert to HD and whenever the speed fall the quality will also fall using compression technology.

* Skype Lite will show the amount of data you have consume and how much you have saved using Lite version, it will also mention you the breakdown of Wifi and Cellular Data. 

* Skype Lite can also be used as your default dialler app or messenger app. you can check out your messages, chat, call history, contact list without switching between apps, you can also apply filter for a better organizing. With this move Skype trying to eliminate other Messenger or all in one apps.

* The only thing user gonna miss in this Lite App are Mojis - GIF images which are like Animated Stickers which we all fond of it.

* Skype Lite covers 7 different Indian Languages like Hindi, Gujarati, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

Skype Lite with Aadhaar Integration

This is quite a interesting thing because even many payment apps are not even integrated with Aadhaar. What will be the future plan for Microsoft with this can't be called at this stage, as Microsoft gave the option to the users so that user verifies the identity of the person he or she is talking or wants to confirm. User just needs to request for the Aadhaar verification, the other person if agrees for it, will receives a key via OTP for the confirmation to get it verify.

Skype Lite is the new life for Skype

Microsoft don't wants to stick with Operating Systems or Microsoft Office, they wants to expand their business in many way, they failed in Mobile Sector and lost their focus from other acquisitions. When Microsoft bid for Linkedin everyone was shocked with this, they do came up with new outlines like Linkedin Lite although they didn't came up with new App but promised to make a website lighter for Slow connections and launched "Sangam" program to help White Color professionals. Overall Skype Lite is a push from Microsoft to bring back the existing users similarly attracts the new during the season of "Datagiri", also with this way they buckled up to compete with updated competition.


Author of this post is +Anirudha Das, he writes in Tech, Sports, Social, Politics, Business. Follow him on social media at @anirudhasdas 

WhatsApp Status rolls out: Its no more a Chatting App

Few days back WhatsApp announced a Status feature which will convert WhatsApp to Social Media App then a normal Chatting App. Feature was supposed to reach in peoples phone in few days its now has, yesterday WhatsApp's new feature rolled out in Google Play and iOS Store. So whats exactly this new feature is ? People who're not much aware of Snapchat should know that basically this feature is introduced to compete with Snapchat only, a unique Social Media app who disappears your Story within 24 hours of your posting and allows to bring more within your followers and friends, recently Hike too launched their feature termed "Stories". So WhatsApp's Status launching is good for those who're not fond with Hike or not sure about Snapchat. Indeed its a new start for WhatsApp and its all new Social Media for the user in some extent. 

How to use WhatsApp Status Feature ?

* First of all user have to update WhatsApp with latest version with a respective playstore.

* Once updated you able to see the new Tab of "Status" between "Chats" and "Calls" and its a very intelligent call to place the tab in between few important feature so that everyone gets a view on it.

* When you click on Status you able to see Status updates by the Contacts you have.

--Tap on a status to reply to that person, that reply sent to the regular chat conversation you have with that person along with a snapshot of a status. So with this Status will trigger the conversation as well.

* To add your own Status you needs to click on the given circle or simply on "My Status".

--After successfully posting your Status, it will be appear on the top with a timing it was updated.

* After posting Status it will take 24 hours to expire automatically but if you still wants to delete before a given time you can click on 3 dots in front of your Status, it will move you to the next page where you can select the status and use the delete option in the top, also you can reshare your status with some of your contacts along with can check how many people actually view your status.

Take care of your Privacy 

For those who is bit a private person not wants to share every bit of his or her life in Social Media can have some relief with new Feature of WhatsApp because now you secure your Status with few contacts you don't wants to share with.

Thats why WhatsApp introduces 3 option for those who usually have lots of contact list and using only one number for WhatsApp either its a Client, Friend or Family. Using these 3 option you can point who can have a access of your Status. These 3 options are:

My Contacts This by default option will let you share your Status with every contact you saved.

My Contacts except... This will basically let you share your Status with everyone except few you don't wants to share with, for example you have contact of your Clients they don't bother what you shared which belongs to your Family or Friends hence you can curb such contact from the Status.

Only Share with... This will further help you to share the status to only those you wants to share with, for example if the Status belongs to your family then choose only those contacts, if to your friends then choose the similar contacts only.

What you have lost in this new update ?

* Now the old Status option is removed by  WhatsApp, its bad for those who uniquely used to update the by default template status whether they're "available" or are "busy" or are "in meeting" appreciate for "no calls only whatsapp" like this. Before you can put the Status forever but now you have to update the similar status in every 24 hours unless you're not deleting it before a given timeline along with your picture or video as well since you can't update Status in plain text which not looks to be sensible for professionals.

* Privacy in current scenario of WhatsApp is like set it for once and for all Status updates, its not allowing you to set privacy separately with every new Status Post, hopefully WhatsApp tunes a bit in this.


Author of the post is +Anirudha Das, he writes in Tech, Sports, Social, Politics, Business. Follow him on social media at @anirudhasdas

Google Allo learned and now recognizes Hindi

India is one of the key market for Google and by sensing this Google's ambitious project Google's Allo learned and recognized Hindi quite early as what was promised to be in the development phase. At September this year Google Allo launched aiming to compete with WhatsApp, Hike, Telegram, aimed to become popular infront of Indian youths as well as in the other part of the World. So far Google Allo launched with a big promise with specialty of Google Assistant but remain steady rather then making a big impact in compare of the existing competitors. Google Allo can be consider as a counterpart of WhatsApp and Hike where users have to register themselves with a mobile number unless like Telegram which also used to provide the feature of username it means if someone is not comfortable for sharing his or her number still he or she can create a group and personal chat with the username they take to have a profile, Telegram will only recognizes the number of contact list you have saved in the mobile rest it won't disclose you in chats because of Username facility. Though with Google Allo you can't expect Username system at this moment of time because of Google's current Terms and Conditions which won't allow someone to decide the username of their own in Google+ profile and page either, similarly for Youtube channel as well hence Google Allo kept the one way out to create profiles.

Image Credit: Alphabet Inc. parent group of Google Allo

Google aim to get a boost via Google Allo in India particularly as the number of smart phone users and that too of Android is quite huge in stats and figures and even dominating in the market hence Google sensed the urgency to go extra mile with Hindi language, Google Allo already came up with Stickers hence we can always feels the Indian stickers trend soon just like Hike. But if truly compare how many of people will really gonna go with Google Allo will be the big question for sure. There is always a possibility infront of users in India to have a multiple chatting app accounts only condition is if its flexible in size and little bit cool overall in working. Honestly no App can really replace WhatsApp only except WhatsApp hence to capture to 2nd spot and reaching to quite nearby of WhatsApp every company is working hard. Even Hike last month launched their new feature "Stories" which is quite inspired from Snapchat where you have funny faces to choose including Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh and PM Narendra Modi by taking snaps with the face you selected you can create a new story which will last for next 48 hours which will let your circle to have some fun and reason to interact, that's the another way Hike is looking to engage their base with the concept.

   

 

Calling Google Assistant is same as before you just needs to tag @google in the conversation and start talking assistance in Hindi. Google has improved the voice recognition as well but need more work on it, sometime it stuck on some words which Google couldn't understood in 1 attempt. Overall it increases the value infront of the Indian users of Google Allo and Google must be hoping to increase its ground although long way to go for Google to cement its place with Allo all around the World though. In addition with this Google also added Brazilian Portuguese support to the Assistant and Smart Reply along with local stickers for Brazil catering Food, Gamer Culture and City Life.

You can install Google Allo from Google Play Store & iTunes. Checkout more from Google Allo Official Website.


Author of this post is +Anirudha Das, he writes in Tech, Sports, Social, Politics, Business. Follow him on social media at @anirudhasdas

WhatsApp Video Call enabled for All

WhatsApp who was recently testing Video Call in Beta Version launched the feature for all. Users just needs to update their App with new version from the Play Store. At this moment of time some people trying to spread one fake link which quoted that to activate Video Call feature, Users are asked to go through it, but honestly there is no invitee thing out there by which you activates the Video Call. WhatsApp do come up with invitee scheme when they launched Voice Call feature but later they rolled out that for all. Its quite obvious that competition is quite high now and every Social App is trying to bring maximum feature which can increase their customer base as well as business hence there is no need at all for any user to go some sought of special tweak to get the job done.

Image Credit: WhatsApp

Last year when WhatsApp launched the Voice Call feature it was not launched in end to end way, all of the sudden spam artist played with the vary moment by launching a kind of a duplicate link and trapped many. Since WhatsApp came up with enabling Voice Call feature after getting a call from someone who already had Voice Call enabled but later the Facebook-owned firm learned about the spam in the case of invitation feature after discarding it WhatsApp rolled out the Voice Feature in via respective App Stores. Since after testing the Video Call for a month WhatsApp rolled out the feature but this time they didn't repeated their past mistake which they committed last time but still Spam Artists are busying peoples to route towards the phishing. Within some days after WhatsApp officially launched the feature, people start sharing the Apk files of new WhatsApp version or the invitation link in both cases better not to go through it since it can be a spam hence updating the App from the Play Store is a better and safest choice.

What kind of message is this ?

Basically these messages are distributing in Groups first. Any random group you're a member of will get this message. For knowing or unknowingly peoples are distributing this and unknowingly peoples are clicking into these messages as well. Nowhere days peoples are very much aware of Apk files as well and start installing the third party apps which are not available in Play Store because of probably security or financial reasons in between App developers. But few peoples won't leave any stone upturn of the smart phone and start downloading third party app which is might not be feasible for the phone itself or might have many security bugs which can expose the users personal details to any random servers, hence by default Android Mobiles comes up with the installation of third party apps disabled and peoples have to enabled it on their own risk if they wants to install any Apk file.

Now this spam invitation link looks to be like this with the link given no one will able to find that whether its fake or real in first instance hence many can comes in a trap. Although in initial days peoples who realizes it as phishing has already reported and thats why the link is already came under the radar of Google who has marked it as spam. Thats why after clicking into the link you will see such warning message.

Now even afterwards you wants to try it then it would be totally upto your risk since this is not verified from the company itself. Also there is no invitation needed to enable the WhatsApp feature only thing which any user needs to do is to update the latest version of WhatsApp from the App Store.

You guys can checkout our latest video as well Basic of WhatsApp Videocalls

Hope this blog will clear many doubts regarding the WhatsApp Video Call feature, although WhatsApp is quite late to implement this new feature on their App compare to other native apps, competition of Google is gone tougher this time as their stakes was quite high with Duos. But good that we got more and more competition in the market as more competition will give us more of exciting new Apps and Features.

Author of this post is +Anirudha Das, he writes in Tech, Sports, Social, Politics, Business. Follow him on social media at @anirudhasdas

Video Chat Era Begins: After WhatsApp, Hike upgrades to Video Chat to compete Duos, Skype

Almost a month ago Google announced Duos with a aim to compete Skype on Video Chat segment it was then only have Skype and Google's Hangout on that segment but within a months time two major chatting app WhatsApp and Hike joins the crowded market. WhatsApp Video Chat as of now is in Beta Version soon to be launch, Hike already made Video Chat available in Android soon to be launch in iOS. Hike was testing Video Chat since September with some selected group is now live the feature in the Apps as per the report. Hike App is one of the popular App in India covers over 100 million users from it 95 percentage is Indian users according to the company. Hike is one of the first to make stickers popular and its Indian based stickers are famous among the youths. Now chatting App like Allo which got motivated and implementing stickers are way to go on competing with Hike on its local look.

                                                                             
                                    Image credit: "The Jetsons" Animation Series

Skype and WhatsApp is popular among professionals as both are quite simple and to the task unless like Hike which offers News, Games and many more service under their belt also upgraded to 8 Indian Language which help this App to built a new spot. Today if Google trying to find is place in India then its after following the footstep of Hike only. Although Google will be 1 step away and that is because of Google Assistance but still lots of question mark are there on the future performance and Google needs to answer those with the time. WhatsApp still hasn't rolled the Video Chat officially but it released for Beta Users. As per Beta Users App is not stable and having lots of Bugs hence unless WhatsApp not fix those it won't launch officially by that time line. Overall the era of Video Chat has begin as many Chatting App first moved towards the Voice Chat App and after got upgraded they now moved towards Video Chat.

Pressure for Google Allo and Duos since both App serving the purpose separately. Although Google has added that soon Hangout will be integrated with Chrome so that during conversation Users can have the web access as well. Let see which App dominates on Video Chat since Apps first task would be to provide a platform which can work efficiently through 2G network and then it would consume less battery. IMO App has this Cons but quality of Video Streaming is extremely poor hence this App is not so popular among the youths. Slowly slowly 4G deploying in the Country and after its complete role out surely prices will come down as well in that case companies to wants to join into the race of new innovation with every possible feature it can. There is nothing to hide that soon the way of talking will change and soon Voice call will become the outdated way to connect with each other.


Author of this post is +Anirudha Das, he writes in Tech, Sports, Social, Politics, Business. Follow him on social media at @anirudhasdas