PhonePe expands UPI payments to feature phone users
Digital payments platform PhonePe has announced its acquisition of the GSPay technology stack from conversational engagement platform Gupshup, aiming to bring UPI-based payments to
feature phone users
across India. The move aligns with PhonePe's
financial inclusion strategy
, targeting millions of consumers who remain outside the digital payments ecosystem.
GSPay, built on NPCI's
UPI 123PAY
framework, enables seamless UPI transactions on feature phones. PhonePe plans to customize and extend the technology, launching a dedicated UPI payment app for new feature phones in the coming months.
Key Features and interoperability
The upcoming PhonePe app will support:
Peer-to-peer (P2P) transfers
Offline QR code payments
Receiving funds via mobile number or self-QR codes These features will allow feature phone users to transact effortlessly with smartphone users, ensuring full interoperability in the digital payments ecosystem.
PhonePe CEO Sameer Nigam highlighted the significance of the expansion: "This segment has been historically underserved. By enabling UPI payments on feature phones, we hope to empower crores of users and bring them into India's digital economy."
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