Google Pay is testing its Soundpod in India for merchants to use to verify payments. All details here.
Have you ever observed those little speaker-like devices from Paytm or PhonePe at your local grocery store, announcing loudly “Rs. XX received on Paytm”? These are called sound boxes and have been in the market since 2020. These devices only transmit an audio confirmation of the payment you have made to the merchant, thus eliminating the need for visibility. your phone screen. It looks like Google Pay is also looking to join the race with its Soundpod.
Despite the fancy name, the Soundpod will essentially be a similar device that gives merchants audio confirmation when a new payment is received from a customer. based on a report from TechCrunch, Google Pay has distributed these devices to some merchants at no cost India for pilot testing the ecosystem. These sellers have even been given a specific timeframe to set up the speakers at their stores or registered stores.
Google Pay SoundPod to launch in India soon
The soundpod has been reported to be distributed in several cities in North India, including New Delhi. The device itself has a built-in speaker for announcements. In addition, there will be an LCD screen to show the received capacity, battery status, network status and some manual controls.
Built by ToneTag, there will be a QR code to scan to make payment. Note that these devices do not have NFC to support the touch and pay features found on expensive smartphones.
Currently, rival Fintech companies such as PhonePe, Paytm and others also distribute these sound boxes to merchants across the country. While they are sometimes shipped to sellers for free, they are also available on a fee basis. Rental fees vary for these devices, with PhonePe charging Rs. 50 per month and charges Paytm Rs. 125 per month. It remains to be seen how much Google Pay charges for its rental.
