‘123PAY’ is the UPI (unified payments interface) service, a three-step approach for customers to initiate and execute services that will function on simple phones without an internet connection.

According to Das, the numerous capabilities of UPI are currently only available on smartphones, which prevents people from the lower rungs of society, particularly in rural regions, from using the popular service, despite the fact that smartphone prices are falling. He said the UPI volumes have touched Rs. 76 lakh crore in FY22 so far, as against Rs 41 lakh crore in FY21 and added that the day is not far when the overall volumes will touch Rs. 100 lakh crore.

The RBI said, “Feature phone users will now be able to undertake a host of transactions based on four technology alternatives. They include calling an IVR (interactive voice response) number, app functionality in feature phones, missed call-based approach and also proximity sound-based payments,

According to the company, “Customers now will be able to make payments to friends and family, pay utility bills, recharge their vehicles’ FAST Tags, pay mobile bills, and check account balances, Customers will also be able to link bank accounts and set or update UPI PINs.

Das also introduced a 24-hour helpline, ‘Digisaathi’ for digital payments on Tuesday, which was also set up by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The ‘Digisaathi’ helpline will answer all callers’ and users’ questions about digital payments via website and chatbot.

For questions about digital payments and issues, users can go to www.digisaathi.info or contact 14431 and 1800 891 3333 from their phones.

Minors can also pay online/offline by using FamCard as it doesn’t require any bank account. Every transaction is protected with device locks like a fingerprint, Face ID, pattern lock, or PIN.

As FamCard is a numberless card, all the card details are saved on the FamPay app and there is no need to refer to the physical card to fill in details during online transactions. If in any case card gets stolen, there’s no fear as the card can be paused, blocked, and managed at fingertips on the app.

“Months into the pandemic, people have become more cautious with using cash. Digital payments has become the ‘new normal. None of these apps however, gives the pre-banked segment of minors access to digital payments, making them totally dependent on cash or their parents’ cards for the last mile of completing a transaction”, said Sambhav Jain, Co-Founder, FamPay.

He also added “Since our launch just two months ago, we’ve received high demand with  30K+ downloads already. In addition to the card, we give teens their own unique UPI ID with which they get first-hand access to the growing UPI Payments network.

FamPay worked with NPCI to make this ‘first in India’ numberless card and it has been launched in partnership with IDFC Bank and is accepted across the RuPay payment network of merchants.

The numberless card can be ordered once the account is set up on the app, after both the parent and teen complete their KYC online. FamPay app is available for both Android and iOS on the Google Play Store and Apple Store respectively.

The FamCard is an innovative consumer solution for India’s Gen-next population.

https://blog.fampay.in/fampay-announces-launch-of-indias-first-numberless-card/

https://blog.paytm.com/heres-how-feature-phone-users-can-now-recharge-their-vodafone-idea-number-within-a-few-minutes-5d82078f948c

Along with the telecom major Vodafone Idea, Paytm also partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to extend this service throughout the country. This step would be a great help for millions of citizens who use feature phones and for recharging have to go to physical stores. Now they can recharge their phones by themselves.

The company further stated that this service is based on the NPCI’s innovative payment service *99# which works on the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel. It allows mobile banking transactions using basic feature phones without the need of having a mobile internet data facility for using USSD based banking.

How to recharge your Vodafone Idea number in a few simple steps!

A) If your UPI ID is already registered with BHIM UPI
– You simply need to dial USSD code — *99*1*3# (Your bank account number linked to mobile number through which USSD is dialed is detected)
– Next, enter your Paytm’s UPI ID, desired recharge amount, and finally, the UPI Pin to complete the transaction. Your recharge will be done within a few minutes!

B) In case, your UPI ID is not registered
– Dial *99#
– You will be shown all bank accounts linked with the mobile number from where the USSD is dialed in
– Select the bank account where you want to register your UPI ID and set up your UPI PIN
– To recharge your mobile, you need to again dial *99# and follow the procedure mentioned above in section A.

Paytm by this initiative wants millions of migrants who are away from home and have limited means, to stay connected with their families.