Mobile Connect Launched with 34 Operators in 21 Countries Around the World
The GSMA has announced that the GSMA Mobile Connect mobile-based authentication solution is now available to 2 billion consumers globally.
Since the solution was introduced at Mobile World Congress 2014, 34 mobile network operators (MNOs) have launched the service in 21 countries, with plans for additional launches and trials to follow in 2016 and beyond.
“Over the past two years, the industry has come together to simplify consumers” lives by offering a single, trusted, mobile phone-based authentication solution that respects online privacy and helps to mitigate the vulnerability of online passwords,” said Mats Granryd, Director General, GSMA.
““As Mobile Connect is rolled out globally, mobile operators are fulfilling an important role in the digital identity space, giving users control over their own data and enabling consumers, businesses and governments alike to interact and access online services in a convenient, private, and trusted environment.”
The GSMA’s Mobile Connect solution enables customers to create and manage a digital universal identity via a single log-in solution. The service securely authenticates users, enabling them to digitally confirm their identity and their credentials and grant safe online access to mobile and digital services such as e-commerce, banking, health and digital entertainment, and e-government, via their mobile phones.
It works by employing the users unique mobile number, combined with a unique PIN for more secure use cases, to verify and grant online access anywhere they see the Mobile Connect logo. All operators and online service providers using Mobile Connect have signed up to the GSMA Mobile Connect privacy principles, which is a core pillar of Mobile Connect.
Additional Deployments and Evolution of Mobile Connect
The GSMA is working closely with operators globally to further extend the adoption of Mobile Connect.
While initially focused on secure and convenient log-in to digital services, Mobile Connect is evolving to deliver secure authorisation of digital transactions and to add context and attributes about the user and the transaction to increase convenience, trust and security for users and online service providers, while respecting users privacy. This is currently being trialled in the UK by O2 and Vodafone.
Expanding Mobile Connect Services
Mobile Connect is now in commercial use by a wide range of digital service providers in the launch markets including BDTickets, Bloodlink, Cipika Play, CriticaLink, Dhaka Pixel Ltd., GoGhoom, Homeshopping.pk, LangitMusik, migme, Mudah, Rozee.pk, TakeMeTour.com (Thailand), Wavoo, WOW and Wunn Zin Bookstore. These companies comprise a range of vertical services such as commerce, finance and banking, government service access, health services, and media and entertainment.
Technology suppliers such as Apigee, Ericsson, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, GMO GlobalSign Oy, MePIN/Meontrust, Morpho (Safran), Movenda, Nok Nok Labs Inc., Orange Business Services, Ping Identity and WSO2.Telco deliver the technology necessary to support Mobile Connect and to enable easy integration with the operators mobile networks so that users of any mobile network offering Mobile Connect can log in and authorised for any application.
