Technology giants M1, Singtel, StarHub collaborate for secure mobile-based authentication

Technology giants M1, Singtel and StarHub have joined hands to provide fast, simple and secure access to a variety of online services to the Singaporeans on their mobile numbers with the adoption of GSMA’s Mobile Connect authentication standard.

Technology giants M1, Singtel and StarHub have joined hands to provide fast, simple and secure access to a variety of online services to the Singaporeans on their mobile numbers. Photo courtesy:bgr.in

The internet offers unprecedented access to information and services. Many of the best services also require their users to register, which is quite inconvenient. According to the GSMA, 87% of consumers leave a website when asked to register. Additionally, they also face difficulties remembering their growing list of usernames and passwords with 40% using the ‘forget password’ feature monthly.

Mobile Connect will free customers from having to manage multiple usernames and passwords for every online account. With Mobile Connect, mobile customers can look forward to creating a universal trusted digital identity for convenient and secure access to compatible telecommunications, banking, e-commerce, entertainment, government and travel services and applications.

Through interactive prompts on the mobile phone, customers will be able to easily confirm their identity using their mobile number, combined with a unique personal code for online transactions that require greater levels of security. No information will be made available to online service providers without users’ permission.

Accepting Mobile Connect logins will benefit online service providers too. They will be able to offer simpler sign-ups, reduce customer frustration and abandoned transactions due to authentication issues, and increase the likelihood of repeat business.

To drive rollout and adoption, M1, Singtel and StarHub are building a unified platform to enable easy integration with online service providers through a common Mobile Connect Application Programme Interface (API). M1, Singtel and StarHub expect to announce the first wave of supported online services in the second half of 2017.

 Mobile Connect is developed by the GSMA and currently available in 22 countries.