Vodafone, ICICI Bank Launch m-pesa in Andhra Pradesh

m-pesa

Vodafone, ICICI Bank Launch m-pesa in Andhra Pradesh

India’s largest telecom service provider Vodafone India and ICICI banks launched a new mobile payment and transfer service m-pesa in Andhra Pradesh. m-pesa is the Vodafone trademarks and the services are formally launched in AP.

Hyderabad: Vodafone India and ICICI bank launched m-pesa services in Andhra Pradesh. m-pesa can be used to transfer money as well as make payments. This digital money can be utilized to transfer money to bank accounts, mobile users irrespective of operator and also for mobile-DTH recharge.

Vodafone chief operating officer Suneel Sood informed that there are more than 60,000 authorized agents all through India from where the mobile users can deposit money or withdraw money that is sent to through m-pesa.

Nearly twelve lakh Vodafone account holders are already using m-pesa services. The service is now launched in Andhra Pradesh with 3,826 authorized agents in 23 districts. Among these 700 are Vodafone special stores. All these agents offer m-pesa services to the customers. This service is now available in English, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi and Gujarat languages and will be expanded to other languages also very soon.

The users need to go to m-pesa centres and dial *400 from their Vodafone mobile. They will receive instructions which they need to follow. To complete the registration process, they need to submit their residence and personal identification documents. They will be given a 4 digit PIN. Initial deposit is Rs. 200 of which Rs. 100 will be exempted as service charge and Rs. 100 will be deposited in the customer’s account.

The m-pesa registered users can transfer money up to Rs. 5000 every day and maximum Rs. 25,000 in a month. Maximum amount that can be deposited in an account is Rs. 50,000. Charge for money transfer between m-pesa customers is Rs. 20 for transfer of Rs. 1,000. For unregistered customers, the charge is Rs. 45.

m-pesa will be beneficial for those people who did not receive banking services till now. Services of m-pesa are effective as the system is supported by ICICI which has international experience and skills. These services are now available in 658 Tahasildar, 719 Vodafone special stores and 3826 authorized agents who are specially trained in the Andhra Pradesh.