Uber users can soon pay for rides abroad using Paytm wallet

Digital payments firm Paytm will enable Uber users to pay for their rides in Indian currency while travelling abroad using its mobile wallet by month-end.

Alibaba-backed Paytm will not charge any fees for conversion and the fares will be based on current forex rates.

Currently, Indian users need a credit card to pay for Uber rides taken aboard.

"We will enable users to pay for their rides in Indian currency while they travel abroad. The integration process is on and should be live by month-end... Users will be able to pay in Indian rupees based on current forex rates," Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma said.

Uber today announced a partnership with AliPay -- Alibaba's online payment solution in China -- to enable users to use AliPay's mobile wallet and pay in Chinese Renminbi (RMB) while travelling internationally.

"The integration with AliPay will allow Chinese users travelling abroad to book cabs via the AliPay app (apart from the Uber app)... This will help users who don't have a credit card to use Uber without hassles while travelling abroad," Uber Asia Pacific Head of Business Eric Alexander told reporters here.

In India, Alipay will use the Paytm platform to facilitate the transaction for Chinese tourists travelling here.

"An estimated 150 million Chinese are expected to travel overseas this year. Now using Alipay, they can book cabs in the 68 countries where Uber operates and that too from the Alipay app. Its a huge opportunity and will bring better experiences for our users globally," Ant Financial Services President Eric Jing said.

Paytm is working on similar integration for Uber users in India, Sharma said.