Google is adding a new feature to Google Search in India which will allow users to easily top-up their prepaid mobile connections. The feature comes at a time when major players in the Indian telecom space are struggling and have recently increased the tariff of some of their prepaid recharge packs. As per a recent blog post from Google, users will now be able to search for information on mobile recharges and instantly recharge their connection right from the search results.
Searching for queries related to mobile recharges, with keywords like "prepaid mobile recharge", will bring up a new Mobile Recharge section in the search results. The feature can automatically capture your phone number, service provider, and circle, after which it shows a list of all the available prepaid plans for your phone number. In case you wish to recharge a different number, you also get the option to manually input the number, operator, and circle to browse plans for the other number.
Once you select a plan, you're redirected to a Checkout page which offers various modes of payment for the recharge. At the time of writing, the checkout options included popular eWallets like Freecharge, PayTM and MobiKwik, along with Google Pay. Selecting any mode of payment automatically redirects you to the provider's website/app to complete the payment. The recharge confirmation page also shows you relevant customer support information. As of now, the new feature in Google Search is available only for signed-in users on Android. The feature offers prepaid plans from all major providers, including Airtel, Vodafone-Idea, Jio, and BSNL.
Source: Google