# What is USSD?

Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) allows you to display a plain text message, typically a menu or instructions, on any GSM phone to which users can then respond.

A USSD session begins when a user makes a phone call to a USSD string (e.g. \*120\*912#) on their mobile phone.

## Features

**Build Campaigns -** Create surveys, mobile portals, competitions, and more using the online campaign builder.

**Integrate Your Services -** Set your campaign to fetch text from your web services and push back user responses.

**Create Responses -** Redirect users to different nodes (pages) or trigger an SMS, email, or web call based on their responses.

**Store Session Data** - All user responses are saved and can even be reused in the current session to give users a personalised experience.

**Earn Revenue** - Set up paid content services and earn revenue with premium-rated USSD strings.

**Detailed Reporting** - View total sessions, impressions, costs, and revenue as well as user responses and detailed individual session info.

## Use Cases

* Surveys
* Product Promotions
* Utility Services
* Paid Content
* Two Factor Authentication
* Voting
* Financial Services
* Competitions
* Customer Portals

## USSD Options

| Rate Band          | Description                                                                                                                                                        |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Standard Rate**  | The end-user pays a standard network fee for dialing the USSD string.                                                                                              |
| **Premium Rate**   | The end-user pays a premium fee and you can earn revenue on transactions. Please contact your Account Manager for available premium rate bands and revenue shares. |
| **Reverse Billed** | The end user can dial the USSD string for free. The standard network fee is absorbed by the Corporate.                                                             |

## USSD Flow Sequence Diagram

Visual representation of how users interact with USSD services, from dialling the string to completing an action.

<img src="/files/JAbocGphIvUYGdrfzAtb" alt="" class="gitbook-drawing">

## Creating Your USSD Campaign

Please refer to the below user guides to assist with the options available for creating your campaigns:

{% content-ref url="/pages/59b6zIpbBXhA2lJmoGH6" %}
[Integration with your server](/panacea-mobile-help-centre/ussd/integration-with-your-server.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

{% content-ref url="/pages/ABTx9TtSKOAMJ6iEhdL5" %}
[USSD Campaigns](/panacea-mobile-help-centre/ussd/ussd-campaigns.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}


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