Airtel Introduces Cash Payment by Mobile

India's largest mobile operator, Bharti Airtel, is offering its customers the ability to make payments through mobile phones.

Bharti Airtel customers can deposit cash in their "airtel money" accounts at retail locations, then make payments at retail sites and pay utilities using their mobile phones. The merchants and utilities have to be on the Bharti Airtel network, and be part of the money transfer program.

The feature is as much about customer loyalty and value-added services as it is about incremental revenue Airtel can make by sponsoring the program.

India’s Airtel Introduces Cash Payment by Mobile Phone