PayPal's New "Super App" Finally Includes Messaging

PayPal's New "Super App" Finally Includes Messaging

PayPal is going ahead with plans to turn its mobile payment app into a "super app," according to the company's chief executive. As TechCrunch reported, on a recent second-quarter earnings call, PayPal CEO Dan Schulman told investors that the initial build of his new consumer digital wallet app is now "complete," meaning that it is almost ready to be implemented. By turning your money transfer app into one big app, PayPal could eventually resemble WeChat or Alipay in China or Paytm in India, which provide a number of services in addition to supporting mobile payments. The company previously said that its super app will include a number of new features, such as improved direct deposit, check cashing, budgeting tools, bill pay, cryptocurrency support, subscription management, and buy now, pay later functionality. PayPal also plans to add e-commerce functionality using the mobile shopping tools it got after acquiring the popular online shopping extension Honey for €4 billion in 2019. While the company has run Honey as a standalone app, website, and browser extension since its acquisition, its super app could include the service's deal finder and price tracking functions.

Messaging functionality

On the company's recent earnings conference call with investors, Schulman also revealed that messaging would be another feature available in PayPal's super app. With the addition of the messaging feature, PayPal users will be able to exchange messages with friends, family and vendors without ever leaving their app. They will also be able to send thanks directly from the app after receiving funds without having to use another messaging service. Schulman provided more details on all the new features that will be available in PayPal's super app during the company's earnings call, saying: "Obviously, the is being redesigned. We have rewards and shopping. We have a whole donation center built around to crowdsourcing, charitable donations. And then of course buy now pay later will be fully integrated. … Last time I counted it was like 25 new skills that we're going to put into the super app. Even though the PayPal super app is now coded, the company hasn't provided any details on when it will start rolling out to consumers, though it did say the app will be constantly updated with new features, even after launch.