PhonePe Launches UPI 123Pay for 20 Crore Feature Phone Users

31 Aug 2026, 5:48 pm · 12d ago · 1 min read · Inc42

Walmart-owned digital payments major PhonePe has rolled out PhonePe UPI 123Pay, enabling UPI transactions on feature phones without requiring internet access. Using an SMS-based architecture, the service functions in low-connectivity 2G environments. It comes pre-installed on devices from Nokia, HMD, Lava International, and Transsion Holdings' Itel Mobile, targeting over 20 crore feature phone users across India. The service supports peer-to-peer transfers, merchant payments via UPI IDs and QR codes, and includes an AI-powered multilingual voice helpline in English and 12 Indian languages to onboard non-smartphone users onto digital payment networks.