Paytm Takes on Google Play Store, Launches Own Android Mini App Store for Indian Developers

Paytm, one of India’s leading digital payments and technology platform, announced the launch of its Android Mini App Store. This announcement has been made after Google Play store recently removed the app from its platform for violating norms. However, the company says that the move is aimed at supporting Indian developers to take their innovative products to the masses. The product does not require phone memory as Mini apps is a custom-built mobile website that gives users app-like experience without having to download it.

Furthermore, Paytm is providing listing and distribution of these mini-apps free of cost within its app. For payments, developers will be able to give a choice of Wallet, Payments Bank, UPI, net-banking and cards to their users.

“Paytm has created the digital infrastructure to enable small developers and businesses to set up low-cost, quick-to-build mini-apps which can be built using HTML and javascript technologies. The company provides Paytm wallet, Paytm Payments Bank account and UPI at zero charges and levies a 2% charge for other instruments like credit cards. This local India’s app store aims to drive the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission while keeping the digital consumer spends within India,” says a statement from the company.

Paytm Mini App Store offers direct access to discover, browse and pay without downloading or installing separate apps. More than 300 app-based service providers such as Decathalon, Ola, Park+, Rapido, Netmeds, 1MG, Domino's Pizza, FreshMenu, NoBroker have already joined the program, according to the company. It comes with a developer dashboard for analytics, payments collection along with various marketing tools to engage with the users. This app store has been running in beta with select users and witnessed over 12 million visits in the month of September.

Vijay Shekhar Sharma, founder and CEO - Paytm said: "I am proud that we are today launching something that creates an opportunity for every Indian app developer. Paytm Mini App Store empowers our young Indian developers to leverage our reach and payments to build new innovative services. For Paytm users, it will be a seamless experience that doesn't require any separate download and enables them to use their preferred payment option."