U Mobile has introduced SIM-based Phone Number Verification (PNV) on its ULTRA5G network, allowing businesses and app developers to verify a user’s mobile number instead of relying on SMS one-time password (OTP). The solution provides a more secure way to verify a user’s phone number since SMS OTP is not encrypted and can be phished or intercepted by malware.
The service is offered in partnership with Telenor Linx and is also available to developers using Google Firebase. According to U Mobile, the technology simplifies common processes such as account registration, login and mobile number verification while helping businesses reduce fraud risks.
Instead of waiting for an SMS and manually entering a verification code, users can have their mobile numbers verified directly through U Mobile’s network.
U Mobile partners with Telenor Linx to offer SIM-based verification
Through its partnership with Telenor Linx, U Mobile is making its SIM-based Phone Number Verification service accessible to developers using Google Firebase, allowing them to integrate network-based verification into their apps.
U Mobile Chief Business Officer How Lih Ren said, “As more of our everyday activities move online, authentication needs to be secure without making the experience unnecessarily complicated for users. Through our partnership with Telenor Linx, we are extending the capabilities of U Mobile’s network beyond connectivity to help businesses provide a simpler way for customers to verify their mobile numbers. Instead of having to wait for and manually enter an SMS OTP, supported services can authenticate users directly through our network, making the experience faster and more seamless while helping businesses strengthen digital trust.”
Meanwhile, Telenor Linx CEO Stig Atle Waagbø, said: “The value of SIM-based verification grows with every operator that joins the ecosystem. Through our partnership with U Mobile, we are extending trusted network capabilities to the applications and services people use every day, making verification more seamless and secure. This collaboration demonstrates how mobile operators can create new value from their networks while strengthening digital trust.”
Firebase Senior Product Manager Micah Baker said, “App developers care about the outcomes enabled by technology, not the technology itself. By making U Mobile’s network verification capabilities available through Firebase, we’re making it easier for developers to verify phone numbers, enabling faster sign-up and sign-in experiences for users while strengthening trust and reliability.”
How does SIM-based Phone Number Verification work?
Unlike a conventional SMS OTP, SIM-based Phone Number Verification uses the mobile operator’s network to confirm the phone number associated with the SIM in a user’s device.
When a supported app requests verification, the user gives consent for the process. The service then checks the SIM with the participating telco, which confirms the associated phone number without sending an SMS.
According to Google, Firebase PNV typically completes verification under two seconds after the user gives consent. For apps or devices that do not support the service, developers can continue offering SMS OTP as an alternative.
Besides making registration and login quicker, the technology also removes the risk of scammers tricking users into revealing SMS verification codes. However, take note that PNV only verifies the mobile number associated with the SIM and does not establish the user’s identity or eliminate other forms of fraud.
According to Google’s Firebase pricing page, Phone Number Verification in Malaysia will cost developers between USD 0.075 (RM0.31) and USD 0.081 (RM0.33) per successful verification, depending on monthly volume.
Besides U Mobile, PNV is also supported by CelcomDigi and Tune Talk.
