Paytm Launched it's mini-app Store for Indian Developers. The Paytm mini App Store was launched as a part of the digital payment app, the corporate proclaimed on Monday. Paytm revealed this just days after tech pioneers in India entered the national app store, but this is completely different. Instead of giving native apps and developer tools, Paytm hosts links to progressive web apps (PWAs) that are light apps that can run on a web browser without needing installation. As of now, only a few applications have been listed in the Mini App Store.
According to Paytm's press release, the Mini App store has been designed to help small developers and businesses in India to set up low-cost and easy-to-build apps using HTML and Javascript. These apps open within a window inside the Paytm app itself, and the listings will also be free, Paytm said.
Paytm will provide developers with free payment options, including Paytm Wallet, Paytm Payments Bank and UPI. It should be remembered, however, that an additional 2% fee is imposed on purchases made using credit cards. For developers, Paytm also offered a dashboard for analytics, payment selection, and a variety of marketing tools to better engage users.
Paytm even said the Mini App Store has been in its beta testing process with selected users in the country for some time and has seen more than 12 million visits in September. A handful of applications such as AQI Display, EMI Calculator, MojoPizza, Horoscope, Speedtest, and Unit Converter have already been used. Paytm said that over 300 app-based service providers have already joined the programme, including Decathlon, Domino's Pizza, FreshMenu, Netmeds, NoBroker, Ola, and more.
Early this month, Google revealed that it would implement its 30 percent charge for applications that are on Google Play but do not use its billing system. This has led Indian software developers and entrepreneurs to demand an alternative to Google Play from a national app store.
