Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is a protocol that GSM mobile phones use to communicate with their service provider’s computers via text. Many people are already using it to check their mobile airtime and data balances and receive one-time passwords and PINS.
It’s text-driven driven, letting you interact directly from your smartphone by choosing options from a menu. And, unlike an SMS, USSD operates in real time. So two-way communications of information are possible as long as the line stays open, making questions and answers almost instantaneous. A bonus of using this payment method is that’s it’s safer since no data is stored on your device. The service is based on sessions, meaning that you’ll be validated for each and can save all transactional information.
How to Use USSD
You’ll need to have your cellphone number registered for mobile banking. If you haven’t done this yet, visit your bank, fill in the registration form, and get your smartphone linked with your bank account. Your financial institution will then issue you with a generated Mobile Money Identifier. You may be able to register via SMS, or by logging into your online bank account to retrieve the MMD.