Tuesday August 29, 2006
Barcode authentication on your mobile
Macro Kiosk Bhd's newly launched SMS barcode authentication system, dubbed Mobile Authentication Services (MAS), allows mobile phones to be used as a tool to authenticate online ticket purchases as well as collect rewards points.
MAS, which combines compact two-dimensional (2D) barcode and GSM picture technologies, converts text or picture messages into a 2D barcode that can be transmitted to the mobile phone via SMS or WAP push.
 |
“The user just needs to scan the barcode on a special scanner at the merchant's premises to confirm that he has a ticket before entering,” he said.
Goh added that the system is secure as each barcode is unique and there will be “only one available in the whole world at any one time.” Once a user has used a barcode, it will no longer be valid.
Additionally it is not possible to forward the barcode to another phone because of the limitations of GSM technology.
The MAS barcode system also doubles up as a digital loyalty card for collecting points or digital gift/discount vouchers.
“By using this system, merchants can reduce operating costs by eliminating paper-based processes and other card-based transactions,” Goh said.
In the future, he said MAS could also function as a “virtual debit card” that would allow users to store cash value that can be used to make payments on the spot.
Macro Kiosk expects to the system to be commercially deployed for the first time next month during the Asean Communications and Multimedia Expo (ACM 2006) in Kuala Lumpur. — ZAM KARIM
++++
RSS
