Vijayawada: The APPurse mobile application is not a digital wallet but a grouping of private apps. The app consists of links to the digital wallets and mobile banking apps of banks. Contrary to the claims that the government was providing a digital wallet for online transactions including payment of bills, APPurse does not contain any such facility. On downloading from Google Playstore, the app asks for a simple registration procedure. On entering the name and mobile number, the user register with the app. It has digital wallet icons for PayTM, Mobikwik, M Pesa and others in the wallet apps tab and net banking icons of various banks in the mobile banking tab.
These icons are only external links and when the users click on them they will be redirected them to Google Playstore to download the external apps. There is no option to add money to the wallet or pay the bills from the app. Users again have to download the private digital wallet apps and do the transactions. APPurse had generated much hype with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu himself launching it to promote cashless transactions.
A software professional working with Infosys, Tilak Amarneni said the APPurse had nothing for users. “I expected the government would come up with a payment gateway through which at least the government bills like electricity, water bills and municipal taxes can be paid but it only gives information about the digital wallets available in the market,” he said. Software professional Savyaraga Motukuri said the APPurse was really disappointing. “Everyone knows about the private apps. What is the point in calling it a digital wallet with some external links to the third party applications,” she said.
Another feature the government introduced in the app is incentives for volunteers. This again is a third party application developed by a private company. Though this initiative sounds attractive for those who want to earn through the app by providing training sessions, one has to follow a complex and lengthy procedure. “The application is very complex and before giving training to others on cashless transactions one should go to training classes to know how to use the application,” said a B.Tech student G. Sarath. “I have downloaded with the CM saying students can earn while studying but this is really disappointing he said and questioned that who will give us Aadhaar card, PAN and PIN numbers. Only a little over thousand people have downloaded the app till now and majority of the feedback coming in is negative on play store.”
