Technology Desk: The number of people making payments through UPI is continuously increasing in India. However, there are still millions of people who use feature phones instead of smartphones. For such users, PhonePe has started UPI 123Pay facility. With its help, feature phone users will be able to make UPI payments even without internet. According to PhonePe, there are more than 20 crore feature phone users in the country. The purpose of the new facility is to connect these people with digital payments.
You can make payment without internet
PhonePe UPI 123Pay has been specially designed for feature phones. SMS based technology is used in this. With this, payment facility can be provided even in areas with weak 2G network. Users will be able to send money to anyone through mobile number or UPI ID. Apart from this, payment can also be done at the shop through UPI ID or QR code. Users will also be able to check their bank balance and transaction history from the feature phone.
This facility will be available in the phones of these companies
PhonePe has partnered with Nokia, HMD, Lava International and Itel Mobile for this facility. PhonePe UPI 123Pay will already be available in some feature phones of these companies. The company is also preparing to add other feature phone manufacturers to this facility in the coming time. Further, facilities like bill payment, mobile recharge and UPI registration from Aadhaar can also be added to it.
AI voice helpline in 12 Indian languages
To ensure that feature phone users do not face any problem in starting and using UPI, PhonePe has also started an AI based voice helpline. This service will help in 12 Indian languages apart from English. The user will be able to get answers to questions related to setup and payment through chat.
How to start UPI 123Pay in feature phones?
There will be no need of smartphone or internet to start UPI 123Pay. For this these steps have to be followed:
Open the PhonePe app on your feature phone.
Read and accept the terms and conditions.
Select your bank account.
Enter the last 6 digits and expiry date of the debit card.
Set your UPI PIN.
After this your UPI ID will become active.
How to make UPI payment from feature phone?
To send money from mobile number or UPI ID:
Open the PhonePe app.
Select Pay to Mobile Number or Pay to UPI ID option.
Enter the other person's mobile number or UPI ID.
Check receiver information.
Enter the payment amount.
Enter your UPI PIN and press OK.
After this, information about successful payment will appear on the screen.
If the feature phone has a camera, then payment can also be made by scanning the QR code from the Scan & Pay option.
Why is it special for feature phone users?
The biggest feature of UPI 123Pay is that through it, people using feature phones can also make digital payments without smartphone and internet. This can especially benefit people living in rural and remote areas, where internet connectivity is still a major problem.