Safaricom, the giant mobile Company, has rolled out a new M-pesa USSD code that targets non-smartphone Mpesa users. The new code is *334#. The code consolidates all the services on a single easy to use Menu.
This makes it easier to send money to the intended recipient by displaying the recipient’s name and only progresses when the sender confirms to proceed.
During the roll-out, Safaricom’s CEO, Peter Ndegwa Said, “We have embarked on a strategy to simplify our range of products and services for our customers and to provide them with an even better experience. M-PESA on *334# is our first solution as part of the ongoing strategy and it refines how our customers interact with the service. Customers now have the opportunity to truly confirm the details of a transaction before it can progress making reversals a thing of the past.”
How to Use the New Mpesa USSD Code
To use the service, customers will need to initiate the transaction by dialing *334#. They are then presented with different M-Pesa services such as:
- Send money
- Lipa na M-pesa
- Loan and Services among others.
The customer that proceeds by selecting a number that corresponds to the service they seek.
Simplifying the Process
The introduction of the new Mpesa USSD code seeks to bring together all the services that were once offered on different USSDs hence making it easier for customers to transact from a single point.
For example, with the new Mpesa Menu, customers can directly select to make payments to Paybill and till numbers for National and county government services, Banks, shopping outlets. Once a customer selects an option, they are then presented with a list of services they can then pay through Lipa Na M-pesa.
Users can also use the Lipa na M-pesa option to pay for goods and other monthly utilities. Other options available include M-pesa Global, which allows users to send and receive money across the world.
Targeting non-smartphone users
This service targets users who do not have smartphones in Kenya who are about 25 million users though the number of smartphone users continues to rise.
The new service makes it also easier for Safaricom to upgrade the platform, thus giving its customers to enjoy additional services.
