Paytm’s mini-app store to help app developers, brands

Paytm has launched its mini-app store which will allow app developers and brands to take advantage of the digital payment provider’s reach and distribution.This comes at a time when the Alibaba-backed company continues to move forward with a plan to counter technology behemoth Google ’s alleged hegemony in the app store space.Paytm’s Android Mini App Store will also provide app developers and brands payment options by linking them to its eponymous wallet, payments bank and UPI, without charging them a fee. It will levy a 2% charge for other instruments like credit cards.The company, which claims to have a monthly active user base of more than 150 million, said that it has tied up with more than 300 app-based providers and brands, including apparel brand Decathlon , online drug stores 1MG and Netmeds , and online realty portal NoBroker, among others. “I am proud that we are today launching something that creates an opportunity for every Indian app developer. Paytm Mini App Store empowers our young Indian developers to leverage our reach and payments to build new innovative services. For Paytm users, it will be a seamless experience that doesn’t require any separate download and enables them to use their preferred payment option,” Vijay Shekhar Sharma , CEO of Paytm, said.Mini apps are defined as a custom-built mobile website that gives users an app-like experience without having to download them, and can be built using HTML and Javascript technologies A custom-built mobile website that gives users an app-like experience without having to download them. Startup Around