{
  "id": 4841905,
  "title": "PhonePe Launches UPI Payments For Feature Phone Users In India: Here's How It Works",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/phonepe-launches-upi-payments-for-feature-phone-users-in-india-heres",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T10:02:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/tech/phonepe-launches-upi-payments-for-feature-phone-users-in-india-heres-how-it-works"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "PhonePe has introduced UPI 123Pay, a new service for India's 200 million feature phone users, allowing them to conduct digital transactions without an internet connection. This marks the first time a major third-party app has extended UPI payments to feature phones nationwide. The service aims to bridge the digital divide in rural and semi-urban areas where smartphone access is limited. PhonePe's Founder and CEO, Sameer Nigam, emphasized that the launch represents a commitment to making India's digital financial ecosystem accessible to everyone, regardless of their device capabilities.\n\nTo interact with the PhonePe UPI 123Pay system on feature phones, users employ an SMS-based protocol developed by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), specifically designed for devices lacking internet or data. This approach ensures functionality even in regions with minimal 2G connectivity. Although the user experience on feature phones differs from that on smartphones due to the absence of cameras, security measures remain robust.\n\nSetting up UPI 123Pay involves a few straightforward steps. First, users must activate the service, which is currently available on select feature phone models with broader support expected. Transfers can be initiated using either a mobile number or a UPI ID. While camera-enabled feature phones can scan QR codes for payments, roughly 40% of these devices possess this functionality. Direct payments to merchants are also possible via UPI IDs. Users can check their bank balance and transaction history directly through the service interface.\n\nPhonePe has pre-installed UPI 123Pay on devices from Nokia, HMD, Lava International, and Itel Mobile-Transsion Holdings, with more partnerships anticipated soon. To assist new users, the company has launched a voice-first, AI-powered helpline that provides step-by-step activation guidance in English and 12 Indian languages. Future enhancements will include the ability to pay utility bills, recharge mobile phones, and onboard users via Aadhaar, further expanding the service's utility.",
  "summary": "PhonePe has rolled out UPI 123Pay, a service enabling India's 200 million-plus feature phone users to make digital payments without needing an internet connection. The company becomes the first major third-party application provider to extend UPI payments to feature phone users across the country. The service targets last-mile access gaps in rural and semi-urban India, where smartphone…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}