Google Pay to Launch SoundPods Pan-India Amid Paytm Controversy

Google Pay is rolling out SoundPods, portable speakers that validate and announce successful payments, to small merchants across India. The expansion comes as Google Pay consolidates its U.S. payments apps.

After positive feedback from a trial last year, Google is expanding SoundPods, which are widely adopted in India. These speakers, known as “soundboxes,” help merchants validate payments and contest illegitimate claims.

While Paytm leads the market, PhonePe is also expanding its device presence. More than 20 million merchants in India use similar devices, costing around $18 to $20 each.

SoundPods were designed for small Indian merchants who can’t afford traditional point-of-sale devices but accept UPI payments, the preferred method in India.

Google Pay is offering SoundPods at a minimal cost, with a one-time fee of $18 for a year or a one-time fee of $6.06 per day for 25 days in a month. Merchants processing 400 payments in a month with SoundPods will get $1.5 cashback.

Google is proud to contribute to India’s digital payments evolution and remains committed to the country’s digital transformation.