Singtel, M1 and StarHub adopt GSMA’s Mobile Connect

Mobile Connect
Image credit: GSMA

Singapore’s three main cellcos – Singtel, M1 and StarHub – have announced joint support for the GSMA’s Mobile Connect authentication standard, which they say will enable consumers to enjoy fast, simple and secure access to a variety of online services with their mobile number.

While the internet offers access to a variety of services, many of the best services also require their users to register, which inconveniences them. 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 promises to free customers from having to manage multiple usernames and passwords for every online account. With Mobile Connect, the GSMA says, “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 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 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.

 

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