Vodafone has teamed up with payments firm Powa Technologies to enable UK pay as you go customers to top up their credit via QR codes.
Customers who download the PowaTag app and register their details will be able to top up their credit by scanning QR codes with their handsets and selecting an amount.
Vodafone is trialling the technology by placing PowaTag codes in its retail stores across the UK, while customers can also top up at Argos, BrightHouse, Co-op and Tesco.
Meanwhile, thousands of international students coming to the UK in September have received a Vodafone SIM pack from UCAS this month with a PowaTag printed on the back so they can top up as soon as they arrive.
Cindy Rose, consumer director, Vodafone UK, says: "Our customers have told us they wanted a tool that allowed them to top up swiftly at their leisure at a time which is convenient and which suits their schedule.
"Our pay as you go plans offer great value and which are affordable and flexible: with this TopUp addition we are making Vodafone the network our customers can depend on."