WhatsApp has launched a new prepaid phone recharge service for its user base in India, partnering with payment processor PayU to enable the functionality. The feature is being rolled out to the messaging platform's approximately 500 million users in the country.

The service allows WhatsApp users to recharge their prepaid mobile phone accounts directly through the app, expanding the platform's payment capabilities in one of its largest markets. India represents WhatsApp's biggest user base globally, making it a key testing ground for new features and services.

The rollout comes as WhatsApp continues to develop its payments and financial services offerings in India. The company has been working to expand beyond messaging into digital payments and commerce, though adoption of its payment features has faced challenges in the competitive Indian market.

PayU, which serves as the payment processor for the new recharge service, is an established fintech company that provides payment solutions across multiple markets. The partnership enables WhatsApp to offer mobile top-ups without having to build the infrastructure independently.