Delhi. Digital payments company PhonePe on Monday announced the launch of 'PhonePe UPI 123Pay' service, through which feature phone users will be able to make payments through UPI even without an internet connection. The company claimed that with this service it has become the first major TPPA company to provide UPI payment facility to feature phone users.
20 crore users of the country
At present there are estimated to be more than 20 crore feature phone users in the country. According to PhonePe, the service is based on its proprietary technology and uses SMS-based infrastructure to make transactions reliable even in areas with limited 2G connectivity.
Facility will be available in these phones
The company has partnered with mobile phone manufacturers such as Nokia, HMD, Lava International and Itel Mobile to make this service already available on their devices.
What did PhonePe CEO Sameer Nigam tell?
Sameer Nigam, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PhonePe, said, “Bringing UPI to feature phones through PhonePe UPI 123Pay will take the benefits of digital payments beyond smartphones to every corner of the country.” He said that the aim of this initiative is to promote financial inclusion by bringing the next 30 crore users under the ambit of digital payments.
Know the complete process
Through this service, users will be able to make payments from person to person (P2P) and person to merchant (P2M).
Feature phones with cameras will also have the facility to scan QR codes.
Users will also be able to manage accounts, check balances and view transaction history.
The company has also launched a voice-based artificial intelligence (AI) helpline to assist first-time users.
With this, necessary information will be provided in English and 12 Indian languages.
PhonePe said that in future updates, additional features like electricity, water bill payment, recharge and starting Aadhaar based service will also be added. As of July 2026, PhonePe had more than 715 million registered users, while its merchant network had more than five crore partners.