Customers having non-Java, non –GPRS mobile can use SBI's mobile banking service

The mobile banking services of State Bank India- 'State Bank freedoM' will now be available on non-Java and non- GPRS mobile phones as well.

Up till now the service was available only on Java-enabled mobile phones over SMS/GPRS/WAP and on non-Java phones with GPRS connections.

According to bank press release customers can avail the mobile banking service on non-Java mobile phones without the GPRS facility.

SBI had launched 'State Bank freedoM' in March 2009 on a pilot basis in all its branches of the bank, offering its retail customers an alternative channel for a 'secured Anytime Anywhere Banking experience'.

Registration for this service is free and can be done at ATMs and customers holding debit cards can also register for this facility without visiting any branch, the release said.

However customers will have to pay charges levied by telecom operators for the use of SMS/GPRS.

Using this service customers can transfer funds, inquire and view balance, get mini statements of their accounts, pay bills, request for cheque book, recharge of prepaid mobile connections, viewing of demat account details, top-up of Tata Sky/other direct-to-home services, and conduct of m-commerce transactions.

The service is available over all modes -- application based, over Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), and over USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data).

At present USSD-based service has been launched on five telecom operators - Vodafone, Airtel, Aircel, Tata Docomo and Idea, and can be used over low-cost mobile handsets with limited sets of offerings within a daily financial limit of Rs1, 000. The limit is Rs50, 000 for application- and WAP-based services.

The customer can continue using 'State Bank freedoM' services without disruption if the user has changed the mobile number by offering the option to change the mobile number through the system without visiting any branch.

The bank is planning to add more services like purchase of air/rail/movie tickets through the application of 'ngpay' among others.

Soon SBI will be launching 'mobile wallet', based on the policy approved by its board. Thus bank plans to take mobile banking to non-customers, the release said.