Mobile plays a direct and compelling role in the digital economy. For people globally, mobile has become the primary form of connectivity and communication. The rapid growth of mobile, and more so mobile internet, has raised certain challenges for users. One that stands out in the current scenario is accessing the web securely and safely. GCC markets faced the inability to settle purchases online by mobile users due to lack of safety. Peter Lyons, Director at GSMA, MENA reiterated this as he pointed out the need for the industry stakeholders to take these factors into account.
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide, uniting nearly 800 operators with more than 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors.
“One of the main obstacles in the mobile economy in seeing transactions on mobile. In the mobile industry, there is a need to bring more people online to transact and trust by providing digital identity to individuals for inherent security,” explained Mr Lyons. He quoted the example of GSMA’s recently launched initiative ‘Mobile Connect’ as a solution to secure authentication and identification among mobile users.
“With ‘Mobile Connect’, there is no need for multiple passwords or usernames. It does not give out any information to service providers without the user’s consent, making the login process, more private.With Mobile Connect, you are authenticated through your mobile phone, rather than through personal information,” he explained.
Mobile commerce is dubbed the holy grail of the growth in mobile as a medium than just a channel of communication. As the process becomes secure and convenient for users, the changes thereof will benefit all stakeholders of the business. Some of the steps from GSMA is already making a difference on this front.
