**PhonePe’s New SmartPOD Smart Speaker Supports Card Payments Too**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | October 7, 2025, 8:03 PM*
PhonePe, a leading name in the digital payments space, has launched its next-generation SmartSpeaker, called the SmartPOD. Unveiled at the Global Fintech Fest 2025, the SmartPOD marks a significant advancement by integrating card payments alongside UPI-based solutions specifically designed for small merchants.
**Designed for Small Businesses**
The SmartPOD is designed and manufactured in India, combining the functionalities of a Point-of-Sale (POS) device and a smart speaker into one compact unit. This device caters to the growing demand among small businesses that primarily accept UPI payments but often miss out on sales due to the lack of affordable card acceptance options.
Yuvraj Singh Shekhawat, PhonePe’s Chief Business Officer, commented, “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 foundation of the SmartSpeaker 2.0, the SmartPOD retains popular features such as celebrity voice confirmations, 4G connectivity, and fast charging. It also introduces a dual-display setup—one screen for customers and another for merchants—to enable transparent and seamless transactions.
Importantly, the SmartPOD supports card payments from all major networks including Visa, Mastercard, RuPay, and American Express. It supports modern payment technologies like NFC tap and EMV chip, broadening the payment options available to merchants.
**Strategic Vision and Availability**
PhonePe emphasizes that the launch of SmartPOD aligns with its broader vision to provide affordable and accessible digital payment devices to merchants of all sizes. The company also confirmed that all its existing hardware solutions will remain available, allowing businesses to choose devices that best suit their operational requirements.
As of March 31, 2025, PhonePe boasts over 610 million registered users and an extensive merchant network comprising 44 million outlets across India, underscoring its dominant position in the digital payments ecosystem.
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With the introduction of SmartPOD, PhonePe continues to empower small merchants by offering versatile and cost-effective payment solutions, further driving digital payment adoption across the country.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/phonepe-launches-smartpod-a-smart-speaker-with-card-payment-capabilities/story