USSD
USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a Global
System for Mobile(GSM) communication technology that is used to send text
between a mobile phone and an application program in the network. Applications
may include prepaid roaming or mobile chatting.
USSD is similar to Short Messaging Service (SMS), but, unlike SMS, USSD
transactions occur during the session only. With SMS, message scan be sent to a
mobile phone and stored for several days if the phone is not activated or
within range.
The Wireless Application Protocol (
WAP) supports
USSD. USSD is defined in the GSM standard documents GSM 02.90 and GSM 03.90.
USSD Basics
Unstructured Supplementary Services
Data (USSD) is a GSM service which allows high speed interactive communication
between the subscribers and applications. It is similar to SMS in the way that
it allows to send and receive short text messages. It is different in the way
that it is session oriented.
Since USSD is session oriented, it gives a very short delay between sending the
query and receiving the response. This makes it ideal to query information from
the network and to provide text content as a service.
An USSD Gateway is a platform that enables Operators to introduce messaging
services with USSD as the bearer, enabling faster response times. The platform
is complementary to SMS service and an SMS gateway. An USSD gateway acts as a
Gateway between applications and the GSM network and lets you deliver USSD
messages of up to 182 characters on a network between mobile stations and
applications.
Both SMS and USSD technology use the signaling channel as the bearer by
default. (SMS can also use GPRS). While SMS provides a store and forward
functionality, USSD is not like this. It is a real time session-oriented
service, which means that when a user accesses a service with USSD, a session
is established and the radio connection stays open until the user, application,
or time out releases it. This provides faster response times for interactive
applications. An USSD session needs to be allocated to each and every
interaction.
A typical USSD Gateway uses the same application programming interface that the
Short Message Service Center does. Therefore, it is easy to port services based
on SMS to utilize USSD as the bearer. In practice, only USSD specific
modifications are needed to external applications.
An USSD gateway is usually equipped with session management capabilities, that
can handle cell switching, to make sure an USSD Session is preserved even when
the subscriber changes cells.
A big advantage of USSD comes while the mobile client is roaming. This is
because USSD services are well available in roaming networks and all the USSD
messages are directed towards the subscriber's Home Network itself, thus, same
set of services that are available in home network can be given in visited
network too, giving subscribers a Virtual Home Environment (VHE).
An USSD gateway communicates with GSM network entities, such as the HLR using
SS7 (Signaling System 7) protocol stack MAP (Mobile Application Part). It receives and sends out
session IDs from the session ID pool, and maintains and destroys the sessions
The MAP (Mobile Application Part) layer is present both on the server and on
the mobile phones.
The USSD gateway's primary task is to wait for messages from the MAP layer and
to route these messages into a content provider system through SMPP or HTTP or
any other way. The content provider system can return an USSD response.
Allthough the USSD gateway's primary task is to wait for messages, it can also
push messages, because it allows both user initiated (pull) and service
initiated (push) sessions. Thanks to supported 1-way and 2-way mobile sessions
the USSD Gateway enables simple notifications as well as interactive dialogs.
The service provided by the USSD Gateway depends on the ability of the delivery
agent or the source to send and receive USSD messages. The Home Network
subscriber or the inbound roamer can send an USSD string to maintain or open an
interactive session. The MSC connects through to the HLR in the home network
(via the SS7 network). The HLR routes the request to the USSD Gateway, which in
turn routes the request to the USSD content server. The content server provides
the call handling instructions response back through the same path to the
serving MSC in the visited or home network.
For each transaction, the USSD Gateways knows what session is going on and if
you work with a locator, you also have information about which cell is the GSM
phone located at.
the following terms are also important to mention: PSSR, USSN and USSR.
Unstructured Supplementary Service Request (USSR) is a message, that can be
used to initiate a session by the USSD gateway to the mobile user.
Today almost all mobile networks support the SS7 standard CAMEL for prepaid
charging and interoperability. If CAMEL Phase 2 based charging interface is
implemented in the USSD Gateway, it is able to perform real-time billing on
almost any mobile network. CAMEL based charging should be supported for both
network and mobile initiated USSD sessions
Unstructured
Supplementary Service Data (USSD) for Banking -The innovative
payment service *99# works on Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)
channel. This service allows mobile banking transactions using basic feature
mobile phone, there is no need to have mobile internet data facility for using
USSD based mobile banking. It is envisioned to provide financial deepening and
inclusion of under banked society in the mainstream banking services.
*99# service has been launched to take the banking services to every common
man across the country. Banking customers can avail this service by dialling
*99#, a “Common number across all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)” on their
mobile phone and transact through an interactive menu displayed on the mobile
screen. Key services offered under *99# service include, interbank account to
account fund transfer, balance enquiry, mini statement besides host of other
services. *99# service is currently offered by 51 leading banks & all GSM
service providers and can be accessed in 12 different languages including Hindi
& English as on 30.11.2016 (Source: NPCI). *99# service is a unique
interoperable direct to consumer service that brings together the diverse
ecosystem partners such as Banks & TSPs (Telecom Service Providers).
How to get it:
- Provide
KYC (Know Your Customer) information to open a new account
- Mobile no.
should be linked with bank a/c
- Register
for USSD/Mobile Banking
- Get MMID
(Mobile Money Identifier)
- Get MPIN
(Mobile PIN)
Service Activation:
What is required for Transaction:
- Remember
MMID
- Remember
MPIN
- Dial *99#
- Registered
mobile number with any phone (feature or smart)
- Self
Service mode
Transaction Cost:
- NIL by
system
- Rs. 0.50
charged to customer
Disclaimer: The transaction costs are based on available
information and may vary based on banks.
Services Offered:
- Balance
enquiry
- Mini
Statement
- Funds
transfer
- Know MMID
- Change
M-PIN
- Generate
OTP
Funds Transfer limit:
- Rs
5,000/day
- Rs
50,000/annum
Disclaimer: The funds transfer limits are based on
available information and may vary based on banks.
Service Available from no. of operators:
Regional language support in USSD mobile banking
The *99# USSD Based Mobile
Banking aims to make mobile banking easier for rural users, especially the
non-English speaking ones. USSD Based Mobile Banking is available in 11
regional languages and can be accessed in the desired language using the
following short codes.
- Hindi (*99*22#)
- Marathi (*99*28#)
- Bengali (*99*29#)
- Punjabi (*99*30#)
- Kannada (*99*26#)
- Gujarati (*99*27#)
- Tamil (*99*23#)
- Telugu (*99*24#)
- Malayalam (*99*25#)
- Oriya (*99*32#)
- Assamese (*99*31#)
How to transfer money using USSD short codes
In this example, I’ve used HDFC bank account to send money to my colleague
using his MMID number. So, let’s see how to go about it.
Step 1: Dial *99#, type bank name, and when the interface opens,
enter ‘3’ and tap send.
Step 2: Enter beneficiary mobile number.
Step 3: Enter beneficiary MMID, which you will have to get from
the person you are sending money to.
Step 4: Next,
you need to enter amount and remarks
(separated by space). For instance, I transferred Rs 5 to test how this works
, so
it
looks like “5 Test”
Step 5: In the final step, you have to enter your MPIN to
authorize the transaction and last 4 digits of your account number (separated
by space), and tap on send. That’s it, once your transaction is authorized, the
money will be instantly credited to the recipients account.
USSD banking limitations
While the service does enable non-smartphone and non-internet users to send
money using their phones, it is quite a tedious process. To begin with, once
the USSD popup notification arrives, you have to respond within 10 seconds, or
the process will get cancelled. When I was testing, I struggled to reach to
step five as it would often throw an error saying ‘External application down.’
It gets quite annoying as you have to start over again, and again at such
times. Having said that, the service still seems in its nascent stages and
improvements could be expected going forward.
