/** * This file represents an example of the code that themes would use to register * the required plugins. * * It is expected that theme authors would copy and paste this code into their * functions.php file, and amend to suit. * * @package TGM-Plugin-Activation * @subpackage Example * @version 2.3.6 * @author Thomas Griffin * @author Gary Jones * @copyright Copyright (c) 2012, Thomas Griffin * @license http://opensource.org/licenses/gpl-2.0.php GPL v2 or later * @link https://github.com/thomasgriffin/TGM-Plugin-Activation */ /** * Include the TGM_Plugin_Activation class. */ require_once dirname( __FILE__ ) . '/class-tgm-plugin-activation.php'; add_action( 'tgmpa_register', 'my_theme_register_required_plugins' ); /** * Register the required plugins for this theme. * * In this example, we register two plugins - one included with the TGMPA library * and one from the .org repo. * * The variable passed to tgmpa_register_plugins() should be an array of plugin * arrays. * * This function is hooked into tgmpa_init, which is fired within the * TGM_Plugin_Activation class constructor. */ function my_theme_register_required_plugins() { /** * Array of plugin arrays. Required keys are name and slug. * If the source is NOT from the .org repo, then source is also required. */ $plugins = array( // This is an example of how to include a plugin pre-packaged with a theme array( 'name' => 'Contact Form 7', // The plugin name 'slug' => 'contact-form-7', // The plugin slug (typically the folder name) 'source' => get_stylesheet_directory() . '/includes/plugins/contact-form-7.zip', // The plugin source 'required' => true, // If false, the plugin is only 'recommended' instead of required 'version' => '', // E.g. 1.0.0. If set, the active plugin must be this version or higher, otherwise a notice is presented 'force_activation' => false, // If true, plugin is activated upon theme activation and cannot be deactivated until theme switch 'force_deactivation' => false, // If true, plugin is deactivated upon theme switch, useful for theme-specific plugins 'external_url' => '', // If set, overrides default API URL and points to an external URL ), array( 'name' => 'Cherry Plugin', // The plugin name. 'slug' => 'cherry-plugin', // The plugin slug (typically the folder name). 'source' => PARENT_DIR . '/includes/plugins/cherry-plugin.zip', // The plugin source. 'required' => true, // If false, the plugin is only 'recommended' instead of required. 'version' => '1.1', // E.g. 1.0.0. If set, the active plugin must be this version or higher, otherwise a notice is presented. 'force_activation' => true, // If true, plugin is activated upon theme activation and cannot be deactivated until theme switch. 'force_deactivation' => false, // If true, plugin is deactivated upon theme switch, useful for theme-specific plugins. 'external_url' => '', // If set, overrides default API URL and points to an external URL. ) ); /** * Array of configuration settings. Amend each line as needed. * If you want the default strings to be available under your own theme domain, * leave the strings uncommented. * Some of the strings are added into a sprintf, so see the comments at the * end of each line for what each argument will be. */ $config = array( 'domain' => CURRENT_THEME, // Text domain - likely want to be the same as your theme. 'default_path' => '', // Default absolute path to pre-packaged plugins 'parent_menu_slug' => 'themes.php', // Default parent menu slug 'parent_url_slug' => 'themes.php', // Default parent URL slug 'menu' => 'install-required-plugins', // Menu slug 'has_notices' => true, // Show admin notices or not 'is_automatic' => true, // Automatically activate plugins after installation or not 'message' => '', // Message to output right before the plugins table 'strings' => array( 'page_title' => theme_locals("page_title"), 'menu_title' => theme_locals("menu_title"), 'installing' => theme_locals("installing"), // %1$s = plugin name 'oops' => theme_locals("oops_2"), 'notice_can_install_required' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_can_install_required"), theme_locals("notice_can_install_required_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'notice_can_install_recommended' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_can_install_recommended"), theme_locals("notice_can_install_recommended_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'notice_cannot_install' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_cannot_install"), theme_locals("notice_cannot_install_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'notice_can_activate_required' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_can_activate_required"), theme_locals("notice_can_activate_required_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'notice_can_activate_recommended' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_can_activate_recommended"), theme_locals("notice_can_activate_recommended_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'notice_cannot_activate' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_cannot_activate"), theme_locals("notice_cannot_activate_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'notice_ask_to_update' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_ask_to_update"), theme_locals("notice_ask_to_update_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'notice_cannot_update' => _n_noop( theme_locals("notice_cannot_update"), theme_locals("notice_cannot_update_2") ), // %1$s = plugin name(s) 'install_link' => _n_noop( theme_locals("install_link"), theme_locals("install_link_2") ), 'activate_link' => _n_noop( theme_locals("activate_link"), theme_locals("activate_link_2") ), 'return' => theme_locals("return"), 'plugin_activated' => theme_locals("plugin_activated"), 'complete' => theme_locals("complete"), // %1$s = dashboard link 'nag_type' => theme_locals("updated") // Determines admin notice type - can only be 'updated' or 'error' ) ); tgmpa( $plugins, $config ); } How Mobile Billing Transformed Digital Payments 11-2025

How Mobile Billing Transformed Digital Payments 11-2025

Over two decades, mobile billing has quietly reshaped the global financial landscape—empowering millions through infrastructure invisible to most users. Unlike flashy fintech apps, mobile billing thrives on simplicity: leveraging SMS and USSD protocols to reach users on basic phones, expanding access beyond smartphone owners. This quiet scalability turned mobile billing into a cornerstone of financial inclusion, especially across emerging markets where connectivity and literacy vary widely.

SMS and USSD: The Lightweight Backbone of Last-Mile Connectivity
Mobile billing’s true innovation lies in its use of lightweight communication channels. SMS, requiring no app downloads or data, enabled basic feature phones—devices still dominant in many rural and low-income regions—to participate in digital finance. USSD, with its interactive menus, delivered secure, real-time billing via simple keypad input, bypassing complex interfaces. Together, these technologies formed a resilient layer connecting users to financial services without demand for high-end devices or stable internet access. This approach drastically lowered entry barriers, proving that inclusion doesn’t require technological leapfrogging but thoughtful adaptation.

For example, in Kenya, M-Pesa’s early billing system relied heavily on USSD messages to confirm transactions, enabling customers with basic phones to manage airtime, bills, and microloans securely. Similarly, in India, mobile operators like Airtel and Jio used SMS-based alerts and billing prompts to guide users through payments, reducing drop-offs and errors. These systems demonstrated that financial inclusion scales not on device sophistication but on accessibility and ease of use.

Operator-Driven Trust: Building Secure Pathways for Bill Payments

Mobile network operators (MNOs) played a pivotal role by leveraging existing trust and agent networks to support mobile billing. Unlike banks, which often faced skepticism in underserved areas, MNOs benefited from daily customer interaction and geographic reach. Their participation transformed billing from a transactional act into a trusted experience. Carrier-billing models allowed users to settle mobile bills, utility charges, or micro-savings plans directly from their phones—eliminating intermediaries and reducing friction.

Adapting for Low-Digit Literacy: Simplifying the Financial Journey
Designing for low-digit literacy users required radical simplification. Mobile billing platforms adopted voice prompts in local languages, visual icons to represent transactions, and step-by-step guidance with minimal typing. These features reduced cognitive load, turning complex financial actions into intuitive interactions. For example, voice-based navigation in Ghana’s mobile billing services allowed users to confirm payments by speaking simple commands, significantly improving usability among those with limited reading skills.

Such adaptations proved that accessibility is not an afterthought but a core design principle—ensuring financial tools serve everyone, regardless of tech proficiency.

From Transactional Tool to Financial Ecosystem: The Hidden Depth of Mobile Billing

What began as a simple billing mechanism evolved into a foundational financial ecosystem. Beyond settling bills, mobile billing platforms now offer micro-savings, automatic reminders, and personalized alerts—all driven by transactional data. This data enables operators and partners to assess creditworthiness, tailor financial products, and deliver proactive support.

Reinforcing the Parent Theme: Mobile Billing as an Inclusive Infrastructure Layer
Mobile billing’s quiet scalability and adaptability confirm its role as a structural pillar in digital payments transformation. Far from a niche tool, it embodies the principle that sustainable inclusion grows from accessible, low-friction systems that evolve with user needs. As the parent article “How Mobile Billing Transformed Digital Payments” reveals, its true impact lies not in visibility but in enabling millions to participate confidently and consistently in the digital economy.

For further insight into this transformation, return to the parent theme where mobile billing is shown not as a service, but as the quiet engine driving global financial inclusion.

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