AT&T Helps Businesses Improve Mobile Transaction Security With New Mobile Identity API Toolkit

PRESS RELEASE

DALLAS, Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- AT&T* today announced the availability of a new application programming interface (API) toolkit that can help businesses make mobile transactions safer and easier for AT&T mobile subscribers. The toolkit allows businesses to automate fraud avoidance queries and the completion of basic forms for subscribers during transactions.

Security is a major concern among people who want to use their phones for mobile banking and m-commerce. According to a Federal Reserve Bank survey, while nearly half of smartphone owners in the U.S. have used mobile banking in the past 12 months, concerns about the security of the technology were the second most common reason given for not using mobile banking.1

When an AT&T mobile subscriber uses their mobile device to transact business with a merchant that is using the toolkit, the service automatically and almost instantly performs a fraud avoidance query to confirm that the device being used by the subscriber is authenticated to AT&T's mobile network. If confirmed, the mobile user can opt-in to a feature that allows automatic population of electronic forms with basic information such as name, address, phone and email information. This feature simplifies the registration process and can reduce drop-off rates for new customers. The service completes these tasks in seconds.

"As consumers use their mobile devices for more and more aspects of daily life, including online banking and m-commerce, they want assurances that these services are as secure as possible," said Laura Merling, Vice President of Ecosystem Development and Platform Solutions, AT&T. "Tapping into the intelligence of the AT&T network as a trusted authenticator for mobile identity not only makes these services more secure, but also easier to use. We see this as the opportunity to realize one of the biggest promises of APIs for businesses."

Businesses interested in using the toolkit can contact the AT&T Enterprise API Program.

AT&T's Outstanding Network

The great performance of AT&T's fastest and most reliable 4G LTE network** continues to be validated by independent third-party testing:

-- AT&T now has the most reliable 4G LTE network according to our analysis

of data from Nielsen.2

-- Meanwhile, our 4G LTE service was recognized as having faster average

download and upload speeds than any of our competitors in

PCWorld/TechHive's most recent 20-market speed tests - the second

consecutive year that AT&T has ranked 1st overall. PCWorld/TechHive also

ranked AT&T's as the fastest combination of 3G and 4G services in the 20

cities it tested.3

-- And AT&T was named America's fastest 4G LTE network in PC Magazine's