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MWC 2014: Leading mobile operators unveil mobile connect initiative

telecom-gadgetThe GSMA, an organization that represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, announced today the launch of a collaborative initiative, supported by leading mobile operators including Axiata Group Berhad, China Mobile, China Telecom, Etisalat, KDDI, Ooredoo, Orange, Tata Teleservices, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra and VimpelCom, to develop an innovative new service that will allow consumers to securely access a wide array of digital services using their mobile phone account for authentication.

The Mobile Connect service will simplify consumers’ lives, offering a single, trusted, mobile phone number-based authentication solution that fully respects their online privacy. In addition to leading mobile operators, key players from across the ecosystem are among the early supporters of this initiative, including Dailymotion, Deezer, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, Morpho, Oberthur and VALID.

“As we move to an increasingly connected world, more consumers than ever are accessing information and using a range of online services across both mobile and fixed line networks,” said Anne Bouverot, Director General, GSMA.

“This digital life brings great benefits to consumers, but also introduces new concerns over the security of online identities. Mobile operators are ideally placed to provide the necessary authentication capabilities to enable consumers, businesses and governments alike to interact and access services in a private, trusted and secure environment. The Mobile Connect initiative we are introducing today addresses this critical requirement.”

For consumers, digital identity solutions such as Mobile Connect offer privacy protection, reduce the risk of identity theft and simplify the login experience for a range of services, such as retail, healthcare, government and banking, among others.

Mobile Connect will provide a streamlined experience for users; they will no longer need to create and manage multiple user names and passwords as the authentication and identification solution being developed will use the subscriber’s mobile phone number or mobile user name and information contained in the secure SIM card. The standard-based Mobile Connect service will utilise the OpenID Connect protocol, offering broad interoperability across mobile operators and service providers, further ensuring a seamless experience for consumers. Industry Support for Mobile Connect

A pilot project run through the Mobile Word Capital initiative in the Mobile World Capital Barcelona and involving the GSMA, Orange, Morpho and the Catalonian healthcare service has also agreed to test the authentication mechanisms in a live environment.

Mobile Connect Operator Launches

In line with its commitment to providing customers with the highest possible level of security, Orange intends to provide Mobile Connect-based solutions across its footprint in Europe and Africa and the Middle East by 2015.

Ooredoo is also aiming to provide similar services in South East Asia around the same time frame. The GSMA expects to see additional operator launches of Mobile Connect in 2015.

The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators with 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organisations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities.

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