India downloads 1 billion apps from play store every month, Tez downloaded by 12 million so far: Google

Google at its annual event in India, 'Google for India' announced that its play store is among the nation's favourite. The internet giant had revealed that Indians download around one billion apps from Google play store every month. 

And it begins! The third edition of #GoogleForIndia is happening on 5th December, and we can’t wait to share what’s new. Join us on the livestream at 11.30 am to find out more. https://t.co/0omLGp3tsl pic.twitter.com/USe67Mmrnm

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) December 2, 2017

Listing out the achievements of its recently launched mobile payments service, Google Tez, the company said that so far it has been downloaded by 12 million users. Tez had so far witnessed 140 million transactions. 

<blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoogleTez?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoogleTez</a> and UPI payments grow together, it&#39;s never been more convenient to make payments, big or small, safely and securely, straight from your bank account. <a href="https://t.co/9ticSFF2DN">pic.twitter.com/9ticSFF2DN</a></p>&mdash; Tez by Google (@TezbyGoogle) <a href="https://twitter.com/TezbyGoogle/status/937936668077649920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 5, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The company also said that from now on, Google’s Tez app will facilitate payments to merchants as well. Google Tez operates atop the Unified Payments Interface, developed by the National Payments Corporation of India. It can be used where UPI payments are accepted.

When your bills come marching in, #GoogleTez is here to help. From DTH to electricity, Tez is how you can pay them. #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/QIxisrTG33

— Tez by Google (@TezbyGoogle) December 5, 2017

Your monthly payments can now go from one place, anytime you want. Presenting Bill Payments on #GoogleTez. #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/1tmJUNRBKe

— Tez by Google (@TezbyGoogle) December 5, 2017

According to NPCI data, Caesar Sengupta, VP of Product Management and lead for the Next Billion Users initiative at Google said that in October-November period, Tez accounted for 70 per cent of transactions on BHIM UPI. Sengupta also revealed that there are 5.25 lakh merchants already on Tez. 

Small businesses are also using Tez to pay suppliers, and transfer money to employees.

Sengupta also announced the launch of bill payments on Google Tez. The app, starting Tuesday, now supports bill payments for Tata Power, Airtel, ACT, DishTV, DoCoMo, and other utility provider. At prsent, it will support over 70 billers, including national and state electricity providers, gas and water, and DTH recharge. 

Revealing the other favourable numbers, it said that 28 per cent of total search queries in India are done through voice commands. 

Google has also rolled out many new apps and schemes. For low-budget phones, it has announced a new search app called Google Go. Google Go will be the default search app for Android Oreo (Go Edition), it said. 

Android Oreo (Go Edition) is bringing the power of computing to everyone. Google Go, Assistant Go and Files Go make that experience richer. #GoogleForIndia pic.twitter.com/PHQhss4iIZ

— Google India (@GoogleIndia) December 5, 2017

It further added that in its strategy to build products for the future, India is key.

The firm is also expanding its Internet Saathi programme in India which has been aimed to empower women in the country. 

Google for India is an annual event which is being held for the third consecutive year. In 2015, Google CEO Sundar Pichai hosted the event and announced free Wi-Fi at 100 railway stations, faster internet search, YouTube pause to buffer, among other relevent things.