No internet needed: PhonePe brings UPI payments to over 200m feature phone users

Fintech major PhonePe on Monday announced the launch of PhonePe UPI 123Pay, a service that allows feature phone users to make UPI transactions without requiring an internet connection.According to news agency PTI, the service makes PhonePe the first major third-party application provider (TPAP) to extend UPI payment capabilities to an estimated more than 200 million feature phone users across India.The service uses a proprietary technology stack and an SMS-based architecture, aimed at ensuring transaction reliability even in areas with limited 2G connectivity.Pre-bundled on select feature phonesPhonePe has partnered with handset manufacturers including Nokia, HMD, Lava International and itel to provide the service pre-bundled on their devices.“Bringing UPI to feature phones through PhonePe UPI 123Pay extends the benefits of digital payments beyond smartphones to every corner of the country,” Sameer Nigam, founder and CEO of PhonePe, said.He said the initiative aims to promote financial inclusion by bringing the “next 300 million users” into the digital fold.What users can do with PhonePe UPI 123PayThe platform allows users to make:Peer-to-peer (P2P) transfersPeer-to-merchant (P2M) paymentsQR code payments, on feature phones equipped with camerasAccount management and balance checksTransaction history checksTo help first-time users activate the service, PhonePe has also introduced a voice-first, AI-powered helpline. The assistant provides step-by-step guidance in English and 12 Indian languages.The company said future updates would add more features, including utility bill payments, mobile recharges and Aadhaar-based onboarding.As of July, PhonePe reported more than 71.5 crore registered users and a merchant network of over five crore partners.The new service is aimed at expanding access to digital payments among users who do not use smartphones.Get the latest Business News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.