South Africa is continues to distinguish itself as a hotbed for implementations of voice biometric-based authentication. As we reported in August 2014, its Social Security Agency (SASSA) is enrolling roughly 7 million voiceprints to fight fraud associated with welfare payment distribution. Now Vodacom, the countries largest wireless communications service provider with over 57 million customers, has incorporated voice password-based authentication into its “My Vodacom” smartphone app.

Vodacom (which is 65% owned by global wireless giant Vodafone), positions Voice Password as “worry-free, easy to use and secure.” Subscribers enroll through the app, which is downloadable from Google Play or from the Vodacom Web site. They recite the passphrase, “At Vodacom, my voice is my password” three times and also repeat the succession of digits “1-9” three times in order to support its unique way of authenticating its subscribers.

After enrolling, users of the Vodafone app can choose “Voice login” from a menu and then repeat their passphrase in order to carry out the tasks they normally turn to the mobile app to accomplish, such as checking billing information or upgrade status, change account information, purchase data or airtime or check upgrade status. The recording of individual digits signals that the app may use more than the standard passphrase when business rules indicate that stronger authentication is required (for instance, serving up random digits to prevent replay attacks when an individual is buying more air time.)

In a separate development, voice biometric authentication specialist OneVault has entered a partnership with ATIO, an enterprise IT and business process outsourcer specializing in contact centers, unified communications, telecom service assurance and training. ATIO’s CEO Chris Van der Sande observes that his company has built its reputation by introducing innovative solutions as part of its overall offering and that voice biometrics will play a significant role in the strategy. From OneVault’s perspective, CEO Paul Hutton observes that voice biometrics are becoming a “mainstream technology.” Both statements are true.

Categories: Intelligent Authentication, Articles

Tags: mobile security, MobileCX, Vodacom, voice password