WhatsApp looks to launch mobile payments service in Indonesia - Report

Facebook-owned WhatsApp is looking to offer digital payment services to Indonesia, according to a report by Reuters. The messaging service is in talks with multiple Indonesian digital payments firms including DANA, OVO, and ride-hailing startup Go-Jek. According to Reuters' sources, deals with these three firms "are expected to be finalised shortly."

A Facebook rep told Reuters that "WhatsApp is in conversations with financial partners in Indonesia about payments," but declined to go into further detail owing to the discussions being in "early stages." Indonesia is Southeast Asia's largest economy and has over 100 million WhatsApp users. WhatsApp is also in the process of launching a payments service in India, pending regulatory approval. According to Reuters, unlike India where WhatsApp plans to launch peer-to-peer payments services, the firm will only serve as a payments platform in Indonesia, supporting payment services via local wallets.