Airtel Money lets you pay through your mobile phone

A mobile phone payment service called Airtel Money is out and running from the Indian telecom giant, Airtel. A service offering from Airtel Mcommerce Services Limited (AMSL), Airtel Money lets you load cash into your mobile phone and then use it to pay while you shop for groceries at a mall or eat at a restaurant.

Like a credit or debit card, using Airtel Money eradicates the necessity of carrying paper money with you at all times. Instead your phone acts as a digital money wallet, when enabled with an Airtel Money SIM.

Register for Airtel Money

You need to exchange your existing SIM for a new 64K Airtel Money SIM, according to Airtel Money's website. After Airtel Money is activated and you exchange your existing SIM with the new Airtel Money SIM, you can load money in your Airtel Money account to start using at merchant shops.

How does Airtel Money work?

You need to deposit cash in your Airtel Money account first by going to your nearest Airtel retail outlet. After you have some money sitting in your Airtel Money account, you can pay at various shops by clicking on the Airtel Money application on your SIM card and selecting the merchant you want to make the payment.

Using Airtel Money, you need to authorize all payment transactions by a unique 4-digit mPIN password. Payment confirmations on Airtel Money are received via SMS -- for over the counter payments to merchants, even the merchant receives SMS receipt their phone, said Airtel.

Where to use Airtel Money?

You can use Airtel Money at merchant shops that accept Airtel Money payments. These range from paying your phone, electricity, gas, insurance, DTH, etc., bills. You can even pay at restaurants, buy movie tickets and recharge your phone using Airtel Money. Currently the Airtel Money service is only being offered in Delhi and Haryana with a select base of vendors and merchant shops.