The Monthly Messenger | December Edition

We’ve got global communications’ number — so we’re sharing important updates and discussions with you, plus some insights into what the netnumber team has going on.

Ah, the winter holiday season! As phone and online traffic spike, the pressure is on to ensure every call and package is routed and delivered to the right destination. It’s also a time to double down on preventing digital identity catastrophe; you don’t want to discover in January what you could have prevented in December. Well, you’re in the right place. We’ve packed this edition of the Monthly Messenger with valuable information and tips to help you better serve your customers while steering clear of trouble. So, let’s get to it.

Innovative, Interesting or Irrelevant?

Let’s talk about the big-ticket items and up-and-coming topics in the world of global communications. Think of this like a ‘hot or not’ for the telecommunications fanatics out there.

Feel free to use the comments to weigh in and share your thoughts on these trends and their impacts:

2,400 voice providers put on notice for robocall non-compliance: The FCC has alerted 2,411 voice service providers that they face serious penalties for failing to properly file in the Robocall Mitigation Database. Those who can’t show reasonable cause for the non-compliance could be removed from the database. As a result, other providers will be prohibited from accepting call traffic from them. The FCC’s action is one of the largest crackdowns on providers who knowingly or unknowingly aid the efforts of robocallers.

Verizon users say goodbye to RCS in Samsung Messaging: Verizon recently sent a message to users stating that Samsung Messages would no longer support RCS after January 6, 2025. The carrier encouraged fans to switch to Google Messages instead. The announcement comes as Samsung ditches its Messaging app in favor of Google Messages. Verizon users can continue to use the existing Samsung Messaging app but for SMS and MMS only. And Samsung isn’t the only smartphone maker to make news with RCS recently.

iPhone users warned about RCS security as well: 2024 was supposed to be a breakout year for RCS on iPhone.Its addition to the Apple platform promised to make RCS messaging more seamless between iPhone and Android users. But in late November, the FBI announced that RCS messages on iPhones had been hacked and recommended users to stop using it. So where does that leave us? Check in next month’s Monthly Messenger for updates.?

What’s the future of digital identity? The complexities of digital identity verification and protection continue to increase as services and transactions migrate to online platforms. Robust and real-time digital identity programs (keep reading below) are at the vanguard of efforts to secure users’ data and dollars while they’re online. iiDENTIFii’s inaugural Identity Index 2024: South Africa Edition maps out some of the trends we can expect in digital identity in the coming year.

Good Reads and Resources

Hot off the netnumber press! New data sheets. The rollout of our new KYC Match, SIM Swap Detection and Number Verification services includes data sheets on each of these critical digital identity services. Each datasheet provides a concise, clear overview of the service and the vital role it plays in developing an effective digital identity program. Download them here: KYC Match, SIM Swap Detection, and Number Verification.?

At netnumber, we don’t just protect and enable your critical number intelligence capabilities; we’re helping to protect the next generation of business leadership. One way we’re doing this is by sponsoring and celebrating emerging leaders like Meron Manaye. Meron is the recipient of a netnumber sponsored scholarship through the Federal Communications Bar Association (FCBA - The Tech Bar) Foundation. We’re proud to champion her efforts, as well as those of the FCBA Foundation. You can read more about the event on the netnumber LinkedIn page.

We’re always putting out new information and expert insights on new compliance tips, solutions, industry trends and more. To stay up to date, check out our blog.

Out and About

We hope you use the holiday lull to rest up and recharge your batteries. Come January, the #netnumber team is hitting the road, and we’ll be looking for you at these important events.

PTC ’25: January 19 – 22, Honolulu, HI: We’re bringing a full contingent of number intelligence experts who are interested in meeting with you to discuss your 2025 strategies and challenges. Learn more about our recently released digital identity suite of services and our new partnership with?sekura.id. Be sure to catch netnumber CEO Steve Legge on Friday during session #2 as he discusses the emerging trends, technologies, and business models shaping the future of telecom wholesale. This session is sponsored by our friends at Mobile Ecosystem Forum . Lots going on at PTC ‘25. Schedule a time to meet, and let’s talk about the numbers!

GCCM: January 26- 28, London: Join us at the 17th?annual Global Carrier Connectivity Meeting in London, the intersection of carrier connectivity. From eSIM, IOT and SMS to mobile, OTT and ISPs, GCCM brings it all together. Stop by the netnumber booth and learn about our Number Intelligence-as-a-Service (NIaaS) portfolio of services. Or better yet, book a time to meet with one of our NIIaS experts and discuss your 2025 strategy.

A Monthly Meet-the-Product

Last month, we introduced you to three new digital identity and security services: Know Your Customer Matching, SIM Swap Detection and Number Verification. Together, they form the foundation for a proactive and reliable digital identity strategy. This month, we dig a little deeper into each service, explaining what it is and what it can do for you.

Know Your Customer (KYC) Matching: Most organizations capture some online personal identity information to help service providers match customers with appropriate products or services. Among the data captured is information that can be used to verify the customer’s identity and match it to their subscription services, device(s) and carrier. KYC matching enables the mobile operator to match provided identity information against subscriber data to ensure the user on the other end of the connection is, in fact, the subscriber.

SIM Swap Detection: Mobile network operators also collect data regarding the mobile device’s SIM card. This information helps them determine if the service connection has recently switched devices and, if so, when was the last switch made? This is known as SIM Swap Detection, and it can provide an important clue as to the digital identity of the device and user. If a SIM swap is detected in parallel to other suspicious digital behaviors, it may be a sign that the user’s identity has been compromised by a fraudster and the phone number and identity have been part of an account takeover attack.

Number Verification: Every online connection also provides rich metadata that can help determine whether the person attempting to connect online is really the subscriber associated with the device. Number verification silently confirms that the device’s registered user is actively on the mobile operator’s network, adding an additional layer of security beyond a one-time passcode without creating additional friction.

When you think about it, the goal of any number intelligence program is to remain completely invisible, working unseen in the background to protect and serve your customers. Like flipping a light switch or turning on the faucet, they just expect it to work. With our NIaaS services and your vigilance, it does. So, as we put the wraps on a wonderful 2024 and look ahead to an even better 2025, the netnumber team wishes you a happy and healthy holiday.

~ See you next year!