With this, PhonePe becomes the first major third-party application provider (TPAP) to extend UPI payments to India’s 200 million+ feature phone users, advancing financial inclusion and bringing underserved communities into the digital payments fold. PhonePe today announced the launch of PhonePe UPI 123Pay, enabling UPI payment capabilities for feature phone users across India without requiring an internet connection.
To us, this is what building for India actually means—meeting people where they are to drive a truly universal wave of financial inclusion that will onboard the next 300 million users into the digital financial fold. ”
Speaking on the launch, Sameer Nigam, founder and CEO, PhonePe, said: “Bringing UPI to feature phones through PhonePe UPI 123Pay extends the benefits of digital payments beyond smartphones to every corner of the country.
The service will come pre-bundled on devices from Nokia, HMD, Lava International, and Itel Mobile – Transsion Holdings, with additional handset manufacturer partnerships to follow in the coming months. Users can access the service directly on their feature phones, with upcoming updates introducing bill payments, recharges, and Aadhaar-based onboarding. PhonePe UPI 123Pay is built on a robust SMS-based architecture, ensuring reliable transactions even in regions with limited 2G connectivity. Key features include:
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