Roger Fingas
On Thursday the four major national U.S. carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon — revealed plans for a new authentication platform that could add an extra layer of security for people using apps on Apple's iPhone and other mobile devices.
The nameless technology will provide a "cryptographically verified phone number and profile data" for people using supported apps, the companies said in joint announcement. To achieve this, the platform will also rely on data such as how long a phone number has been held, its account type, IP address, and SIM card details.
"In addition, advanced analytics and machine learning capabilities will be used to help assess risk and protect customers," the announcement added, without elaborating on the point.
Developers will have to submit apps through a blockchain-based system. Internal trials of the technology are slated to start in the next few weeks, in preparation for launch later in 2018.
The platform is aimed at countering problems like fraud and identity theft. iPhone apps can sometimes use a hodge-podge of security measures, since apart from iCloud and on-device systems like Face ID, Touch ID, and passcodes, apps connect to external systems beyond Apple's control.
Andrew Orr
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Wesley Hilliard
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Amber Neely
16 Comments
Don't understand why these cellular companies think they have any right to validating apps that are on my iPhone. They are a service and have nothing to do with my identity or my information. I can use my phone exclusively on a WiFi network and never touch cellular, therefore they have no reason to touch anything other than their cellular software. The last thing I want is for Verizon to be handing any type of security on my iPhone--just another way for Verizon, then the FBI/NSA, to get data off my phone. I don't see this as helping Apple in any way.
Would like to see the 4 major companies get together and put a stop to telemarketing where the caller uses a Fake telephone number, location, etc.
This needs to stop.
What the heck? Well, obviously no developers are going to allow the phone companies to act as an intermediary. LOL!
Data slurp as a service?
It sounds like the only one that benefits is the ISP’s...
So I get a new wifi iPad and can't access some of my apps since i have no phone number tied to it?