UPI payments have become a daily habit for millions of Indians. But what about people who still use basic feature phones instead of smartphones?
PhonePe has now introduced a new service that could change that.
Its PhonePe UPI 123Pay feature is designed to allow feature phone users to make UPI payments without needing an internet connection.
The move could bring digital payments to more than 200 million feature phone users across India.
How Does PhonePe UPI 123Pay Work?
PhonePe UPI 123Pay uses an SMS-based system, allowing payments to work even in areas with limited 2G connectivity.
Users can make person-to-person (P2P) payments using a mobile number or UPI ID.
The service is expected to come pre-installed on select devices from Nokia, HMD, Lava International and Itel Mobile-Transsion Holdings.
Other phone manufacturers are also expected to join the service.
But payments are not the only thing users can do.
Feature phone users will also be able to check their bank balance and transaction history.
Future updates are expected to add services such as bill payments, mobile recharges and Aadhaar-based UPI onboarding.
How to Register for PhonePe UPI 123Pay
If your feature phone comes with the PhonePe UPI 123Pay service, the registration process involves a few basic steps:
Open the pre-installed PhonePe application.
Read and accept the terms and conditions to complete device registration.
Select your bank from the available list.
Enter the last six digits of your debit card and its expiry date.
Set your UPI PIN.
Once the process is completed, your UPI ID will be activated and you can start making payments.
How to Make a UPI Payment on a Feature Phone
First, make sure your UPI registration is complete.
Then open PhonePe and choose the payment option you want to use, such as Contacts, Pay to Mobile Number or Pay to UPI.
Enter the recipient’s mobile number or UPI ID and enter the amount you want to send.
Check the details carefully and enter your UPI PIN to confirm the payment.
Once the transaction is successful, you can check your bank account balance or transaction history to confirm it.
A Major Step for Feature Phone Users
For people who do not own smartphones or regularly struggle with poor internet connectivity, PhonePe UPI 123Pay could make digital payments much easier.
The biggest change is simple: you may no longer need a smartphone or an active internet connection to make a UPI payment.
As more phone manufacturers adopt the service and additional features are introduced, feature phone users could gain access to many more digital banking services.
