Wire · technology
No smartphone, no internet? PhonePe launches new UPI service for feature phone users
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Fusion42 · 1 September 2026 · Fusion42 review
PhonePe has launched UPI 123Pay, an SMS-based digital payment service for feature phone users in India, enabling transactions without internet access and partnering with handset makers to pre-install the app. This aims to bring over 300 million new users into the digital payment ecosystem, supporting peer-to-peer transfers, QR code payments, and bank account management.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Fintech, and 14 sources have reported it.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
PhonePe's move opens a large untapped user base on feature phones to digital payments without internet access. You can now target millions in India who lack smartphones or reliable data for digital financial services.
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14 sources · 31 Aug 2026
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