Facebook is allegedly working on a new feature for its Messenger app, allowing users to pay in stores. This would mean the app would become a competitor for Apple Pay and Android Pay.
Major player
The website The Information found the option buried inside the app’s code, although it is not the first time Messenger will be used for financial transactions: it is already possible to send friends money through the app, a feature that was also discovered in the code several months before its intended release.
Facebook has not responded to the information so far, but if the feature does get added, Messenger may become a serious competitor for other smartphone payment services. Facebook basically forced Messenger onto everyone with a smartphone who wants to talk to others on Facebook, which turned into one of the world’s most downloaded apps. Such a huge install base would provide an excellent stepping stone for a new Facebook payment service.
