How to Use UPI Payments Having No Access to the Internet

The launch of UPI 123Pay was unquestionably one of the greatest stories in the world of digital payments in 2017. As an extension of RBI-enabled UPI 2.0, it gave feature phone users another way to join the expanding digital world. Despite the prevalence of smartphones, close to 40 crore Indians still use feature phones, prompting the RBI to offer a function unaffected by the type of phone you use or your internet connectivity. With 123PAY, users of feature phones can carry out a range of digital transactions using one of four different methods. Examples include contacting the IVR (interactive voice response) via a feature phone app, a missed call, or a proximity sound payment mechanism.

The Mechanism for UPI 123Pay on Feature Phones

Customers only need to link their bank account to the service to use UPI 123Pay. Following verification, a customer might proceed in one of the following four ways to start the necessary digital transactions:

Missed calls

You only need to make a missed call on the standard number to pay utility bills or make purchases at nearby Kirana businesses. The customer will then automatically receive a callback to input the UPI PIN to confirm the requested transaction.

UPI App

This method requires a unique app that allows transfers but not “scan and pay” capabilities on the customer’s phone. A unique app for feature phones has been created to make online payments for Fastag, LPG, electricity bills, and other services.

IVR (Interactive Voice Response)

The customer must dial a pre-set phone number to continue with any payment using IVR. After UPI PIN validation, the consumer can proceed with desired financial transactions by tapping the phone’s numbers in the appropriate order. Users could pay utility bills, transfer money, and recharge via the ToneTag voice-based technology VoiceSe, among other services.

Proximity sound payments

This method uses sound waves to transfer any device’s contactless, offline, and close-proximity data. Payments can be made via several devices, including smartphones, feature phones, card swipe machines, and point-of-sale equipment, thanks to the technology that underpins it. Any specific platform is not necessary.

The fact that digital payments made using UPI 123Pay are no longer dependent on the type of phone or internet connection does present a wide range of options, particularly for those industries that have yet to adopt digital transformation owing to a lack of available technology and digital expertise. For instance, Bharat Gas (BPCL) reported that after the launch of UPI 123Pay for cylinder bookings and payments, over 13,000 Bharatgas customers used the service and made transactions totaling more than $1 million. This indicates that over the next 12 months, transactions totaling Rs. 100 crores may be anticipated.

Conclusion

The goal of UPI 123Pay is to make digital payments easier to use and more widely available. Overall, it might revolutionize the Indian market for digital payments. It appeals to users and merchants equally due to its simplicity, improved security, interoperability, and incentives. We may anticipate a significant transition in India’s payment landscape towards digital ones as more people use UPI 123Pay.