Vodafone Idea has partnered with Paytm to let feature phone users do UPI recharge without having to go to a physical store or using mobile data. This new technique is based on the NPCI’s payment service *99#, which works on the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) channel. For this to work, feature phone users must have a UPI ID that is already registered with BHIM UPI. Paytm has also offered a way for UPI ID customers to set a UPI PIN, and then recharge their accounts.

The move would help crore of citizens who mostly use feature mobile phones to now top up their numbers without having the need to visit physical stores, it added.

“There are over 550 million feature phone users in the country. A majority of them are migrants and daily wage earners. Due to the ongoing lockdown, many people who rely mainly on mobile phone stores, recharge kiosks are finding it difficult to top-up their basic feature phones which rarely have internet data facility,” Paytm Senior Vice President Abhay Sharma said.

These feature phone users don’t require an Internet connection either to recharge their Vodafone Idea accounts. For users whose UPI ID is already registered with BHIM UPI, they need to begin the process by dialing in the USSD code – 991*3#. Follow the process mentioned below:

For Vodafone Idea users with UPI ID registered with BHIM UPI

  1. Type USSD code 991*3#
  2. Vodafone Idea subscriber’s bank account number that is linked to the mobile number, through which the USSD code is punched in, is detected.
  3. User needs to then enter their unique Paytm UPI ID. Vodafone Customers can enter (98**.vf@paytm), and Idea customers can enter (98**.id@paytm)
  4. Enter the recharge amount required
  5. Give the UPI Pin for completing the transaction
  6. The recharge should be completed, and a UPI reference ID should be generated for the user.

To serve customers during this phase of social distancing, Vodafone Idea recently also introduced a voice-based contactless recharge option for its prepaid customers that can be used at retail outlets. The voice-based contactless recharge option works via Vodafone Idea’s Smart Connect retailer app that retailers use to recharge Vodafone and Idea accounts.