How is HMD's upgraded feature phone different from a cheap smartphone?

Feature phones are more affordable, have far longer battery life, and are simpler for users unfamiliar with touchscreens. HMD is adding targeted capabilities — wallet, video, AI — without turning them into full smartphones, keeping them accessible for users who don't want or can't afford a smart device.

Is a digital wallet on a feature phone secure enough?

HMD highlights three security layers: device-level PIN protection, partnership with fintech security specialist Kivi3, and Polygon Labs blockchain infrastructure for settlement and verification. Full technical details are expected closer to the India launch.

Does Xpress Chat work with WhatsApp or existing messaging apps? Does Xpress Chat work with WhatsApp or existing messaging apps?

No — Xpress Chat is a standalone HMD app that requires installation on both devices. This closed approach is a trade-off: it limits initial reach but gives HMD control over performance and security on resource-constrained hardware.

When will these features reach markets outside India?

The digital wallet launches in India in H1 2026 with a phased global rollout later in the year. The senior AI companion pilot begins in Europe. Specific timelines for other markets haven't been announced yet.

Why is India specifically the starting point?

Three reasons: India is the world's largest remittance market, a global leader in digital payments infrastructure (UPI), and HMD is already the market leader in feature phones there — making it the ideal environment to pilot, validate, and scale these services.

HMD reinvents the basic phone at MWC 2026: Digital wallet, AI, and video calls for the next billion

HMD Reimagines the Feature Phone: AI, Digital Wallet, and Video Calling in 2026

In one of MWC 2026's more unexpected announcements, HMD unveiled plans to bring modern smartphone capabilities to its feature phone lineup through 2026 — across three pillars: a built-in digital wallet, an AI assistant, and video calling. India is the starting market.

Digital Wallet: A First for Feature Phones

HMD's built-in digital wallet will allow feature phone users to receive, store, and cash out money through local payment systems, with support for transfers to UPI accounts for everyday purchases.

The wallet features device-level PIN protection and is developed in partnership with fintech firm Kivi3 and blockchain infrastructure company Polygon Labs. It will launch in India in the first half of 2026, with a broader international rollout to follow.

Video Calling via Xpress Chat

HMD is adding front-facing cameras to feature phones alongside the new Xpress Chat app, which supports video calls between feature phones and smartphones — as long as both devices have the app installed. The app also supports voice messages, photo sharing, and group chats.

AI in Three Forms

For general users: A voice AI assistant for everyday tasks — making calls, setting alarms, turning on the torch, and answering simple questions — reducing the need to navigate complex menus.

For India: A partnership with local firm Sarvam AI brings a real-time multilingual AI chatbot to Nokia and HMD feature phones, letting users interact in their native languages without needing a high-end smartphone.

For older adults in Europe: A pilot with inTouch offers an AI companionship service accessible via a single button press — programmed to speak slowly, retain personal context, and hold meaningful conversations tailored to reducing senior isolation.

The Bigger Picture

HMD's stated ambition is to transform feature phones from basic communication tools into platforms for digital and financial inclusion — targeting the "next billion" users for whom the feature phone remains the only connected device in the household.