Telstra dials into TeleSign

TELSTRA has turned its attention to keeping its customer accounts safe with the telco’s venture capital arm making a strategic investment in mobile identity company TeleSign.

TeleSign provides a two-factor authentication service, using verification codes delivered to customers via SMS, voice or mobile application to the handset.

The technology is already used in the e-commerce and banking industries and Telstra Ventures managing director, Mark Sherman, said the investment in TeleSign was an appreciation of how good the technology was and of how important it was for mobile operators to provide customers with peace of mind.

“We hope to be able to offer a range of mobile identity solutions from this innovative provider and we will work closely with TeleSign to explore opportunities to bring this technology to our own customers,” he added.

Telstra’s entry as an investor bolsters TeleSign’s plans to move towards an eventual listing.