Paytm launches Mini App Store

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Oct 5, 2020

E-commerce and online payments business Paytm has launched a ‘Mini App Store’ for Android, and has already partnered with a number of fashion brands to launch apps through the platform.

The business has partnered with 300 app-based providers and brands to launch its new Mini App Store -- part of its plan to break up what it describes as Google’s hegemony in the app sector, ET Bureau reported. One of the fashion brands Paytm has partnered with is sportswear retailer Decathlon. 
 
Paytm’s new Mini App Store enables brands and app developers to host their apps on the platform and utilise Paytm’s digital payment solutions, including its digital wallet, payments bank, and UPI -- free of charge. Other forms of payment, such as credit cards, will incur a 2% fee, the business said. 

“I am proud that we are today launching something that creates an opportunity for every Indian app developer,” said Paytm’s CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma, ET Bureau reported.

“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.”
 
Paytm also announced on its Facebook page on Friday that it is now accepted as a payment method on Flipkart. The tie-up comes ahead of India’s largest festive sale season of the year, which both businesses are preparing for estimated high sales.