**PhonePe’s New SmartPOD Smart Speaker Now Supports Card Payments**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 7, 2025, 8:03 PM*
PhonePe, a leading player in the digital payments space, has launched its next-generation SmartSpeaker, named SmartPOD. Unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, SmartPOD marks a significant step toward integrating card payments with UPI-based solutions tailored for small merchants.
**Catering to Small Businesses**
Designed and manufactured in India, the SmartPOD combines the functionalities of a Point-of-Sale (POS) device and a smart speaker into a single, compact unit. This innovation addresses a growing need among small businesses that primarily accept UPI payments but often miss out on potential sales due to the lack of affordable card acceptance options.
Yuvraj Singh Shekhawat, PhonePe’s Chief Business Officer, said, “It’s an ideal upgrade for smaller merchants who want to accept all forms of digital payments in an affordable way and helps them tap opportunities to expand and grow their business.”
**Advanced Features and Specifications**
Building on the popular SmartSpeaker 2.0, SmartPOD retains features like celebrity voice confirmations, 4G connectivity, and fast charging. It introduces a dual-display setup—one screen facing customers and another for merchants—to ensure transparent transaction processes.
The device supports card payments across major networks, including Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, and American Express. It is equipped with NFC tap and EMV chip capabilities, enabling seamless and secure card transactions.
**Strategic Vision and Availability**
PhonePe emphasizes that SmartPOD aligns with its broader vision of offering affordable digital payment devices suitable for merchants of all sizes. The company also confirmed that its existing hardware solutions will remain available, providing businesses the flexibility to choose devices that best meet their operational needs.
As of March 31, 2025, PhonePe boasts over 610 million registered users and a merchant network encompassing 44 million outlets across India.
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With SmartPOD, PhonePe continues to empower small businesses by simplifying digital payments and expanding acceptance options, fostering greater financial inclusion across the country.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/phonepe-launches-smartpod-a-smart-speaker-with-card-payment-capabilities/story
