Pandemic drives mobile usage

Mobile phone usage is higher than ever before, thanks in no small part to Covid-19.

A survey by global trade body The Mobile Ecosystem Forum (MEF) engaged with 6,500 mobile users across ten countries and found most were using their mobile phone more as a result of the pandemic.

This upward trend in usage was most noticeable in South Africa, Brazil, India and China, and in general among those aged 35-44.

The MEF’s eighth annual trust survey went on to suggest that the pandemic has reinforced the role of the mobile phone as a one-stop shop entertainment and life management tool.

Growth was seen in everyday activities, including food ordering and payments, leisure pursuits such as social media, music and gaming, and evolving video consumption habits.

Exposure to threats

Along with increased mobile usage has come increased exposure to harm. Mobile users also reported increased spam, smishing and phishing.

At the same time, across all markets, it is clear people feel that apps and services are now doing more to protect their privacy and secure their data.

One Time Passwords (OTPs)

Users are also becoming accustomed to acting based on a prompt such as a one-time passcode (OTP) or authenticator verification request, with 40 per cent of respondents claiming to have used a one-time SMS password to verify their identification in the past 12 months.

Verify

One-time passwords are an effective tool to enhance security for online apps and services – made simple through using the mobile phone technology.

MessageCloud’s Verify service offers a two-factor authentication using a one-time password (OTP) to verify customers via their mobiles.

About MessageCloud

MessageCloud is a multi-award winning mobile messaging technology provider. Its cloud-based SMS and messaging products enable companies to set up and manage one-way and two-way communications effortlessly. Plus, it offers products to analyse phone numbers, verify users and accept payments by mobile.

With its range of products, ‘Send’, ‘Numbers’, ‘Verify’, ‘Analyse’ and ‘Pay’, MessageCloud delivers tools that maximise mobile marketing; from virtual numbers to payment systems for carrier billing. And with more than a decade of delivering messages for diverse markets around the globe, it is a service on which you can rely.