Mobile Money is the primary payment method supported by Yabetoo. This guide explains how it works and how to integrate it into your application.
What is Mobile Money?
Mobile Money is a digital payment service that allows users to store, send, and receive money using their mobile phone. It’s widely used in Africa where traditional banking infrastructure is limited.
Supported Operators
Yabetoo currently supports the following Mobile Money operators:
| Operator | Code | Countries | Description |
|---|
| MTN MoMo | mtn | Congo-Brazzaville | MTN Mobile Money |
| Airtel Money | airtel | Congo-Brazzaville | Airtel Money |
How Mobile Money Payments Work
1. Customer Initiates Payment
The customer provides their phone number and selects their Mobile Money operator.
2. Payment Request Sent
Yabetoo sends a payment request to the Mobile Money provider.
3. Customer Receives Notification
The customer receives a push notification (USSD prompt) on their phone asking them to confirm the payment.
4. Customer Enters PIN
The customer enters their Mobile Money PIN to authorize the transaction.
5. Payment Confirmed
The Mobile Money provider confirms the payment and notifies Yabetoo.
Integration Example
When confirming a payment intent, you must provide the Mobile Money details:
const confirmation = await fetch(
"https://pay.sandbox.yabetoopay.com/v1/payment-intents",
{
method: "POST",
headers: {
"Content-Type": "application/json",
Authorization: "Bearer sk_test_XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX",
},
body: JSON.stringify({
client_secret: "pi_xxx_secret_xxx",
payment_method_data: {
type: "momo",
momo: {
country: "cg",
msisdn: "+242066594470",
operator_name: "mtn",
},
},
}),
}
);
Required Fields
| Field | Type | Description |
|---|
type | string | Always "momo" for Mobile Money |
momo.country | string | Country code (e.g., "cg" for Congo) |
momo.msisdn | string | Phone number in international format |
momo.operator_name | string | Operator code ("mtn" or "airtel") |
| Format | Example | Valid |
|---|
| With country code | +242066594470 | Yes |
| With country code (no +) | 242066594470 | Yes |
| Local format | 066594470 | No |
Country Codes
| Country | Code | Phone Prefix |
|---|
| Congo-Brazzaville | cg | +242 |
Handling Mobile Money Specifics
Timeout Considerations
Mobile Money transactions can take longer than card payments because:
- The customer needs to receive the push notification
- They need to manually enter their PIN
- Network latency with Mobile Money providers
Set a reasonable timeout (60-90 seconds) when waiting for payment confirmation.
Common Failure Reasons
| Reason | Description | User Action |
|---|
PAYER_NOT_FOUND | Phone number not registered with operator | Verify the phone number |
LOW_BALANCE | Insufficient funds | Top up Mobile Money account |
APPROVAL_REJECTED | Customer rejected the payment | Ask customer to try again |
TIMEOUT | Customer didn’t respond in time | Retry the payment |
Testing Mobile Money
In the sandbox environment, use these test numbers:
Successful Payments
242066000001 (Airtel Money) - Always succeeds- Any other number (MTN MoMo) - Always succeeds
Failed Payments
242050017890 (Airtel) - Internal error46733123451 (MTN) - Rejected46733123455 (MTN) - Payer not found
Best Practices
- Validate phone numbers - Ensure the format is correct before sending
- Show clear instructions - Tell users to expect a notification on their phone
- Handle timeouts gracefully - Allow users to retry if they missed the prompt
- Store operator preference - Remember the user’s preferred operator for future payments
