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Wire · technology

No smartphone, no internet? PhonePe launches new UPI service for feature phone users

Published

31 August 2026

Topic

technology

Sectors

Fintech

Geography

India

Source

Read at livemint.com

Verified

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.

Coverage

14 sources · 31 Aug 2026

Topics

Fintechdigital-paymentsupifeature-phonesfinancial-inclusionindiaphonepe