SMS far from dead

[Jan]

SMS is far from dead in South Africa — here's why

SMS services remain crucial for many South Africans to receive one-time PINs, transaction information, and essential communications from service providers.

While data-based messaging platforms like WhatsApp provide South Africans with low-cost messaging solutions, SMS services remain an essential technology in the country and Africa as a whole.

 

[FiestaST]

It never occurred to me it was ever "dead" but good to know.

 

[backstreetboy]

Yeah just because companies in SA can't be bothered to support a universal standard like TOTP. Transaction message moved to in app and the rest of the SMS received are all spam.

 

[system32]

SMS services remain crucial for many South Africans to receive one-time PINs, transaction information, and essential communications from service providers.

“The types of SMS being sent still include the standard one-time-PINs (OTPs) and alert notifications, particularly from banks linked to transactions and fraud prevention through visibility and OTPs,” they said.

Any bank still sending OTP via SMS is looking to get sim swapped.
It costs ~19c to bulk send SMS - much cheaper and safer to use Banking App 2FA.

 

[system32]

Yeah just because companies in SA can't be bothered to support a universal standard like TOTP. Transaction message moved to in app and the rest of the SMS received are all spam.

+1
So to combat OTP sim swap fraud ICASA is now wanting to force biometric registration for SIMs.
OTP fraud can be better addressed with TOTP or app based 2FA.

 

[NeonNinja]

Any bank still sending OTP via SMS is looking to get sim swapped.
It costs ~19c to bulk send SMS - much cheaper and safer to use Banking App 2FA.

Sometimes there's no data connection.

 

[system32]

Sometimes there's no data connection.

If there is no data connection, you should not be doing secure internet banking.

 

[Thor]

Profit margins on those bad boys?

Brilliant business, brilliant staff, not a bad company for devs to work for from what I know.

 

[Dan C]

Any bank still sending OTP via SMS is looking to get sim swapped.
It costs ~19c to bulk send SMS - much cheaper and safer to use Banking App 2FA.

Banking App ? Are you out of your skull ?

 

[VC-1]

Yes the SMS will always be around.

• SMS utilises GSM technologie - Will still function in low RF signal areas.
• These Data driven OTT service - Tend to fail in low RF signal areas.
• The SMS is a default system on all phones that does not require any special app to function.

So Yes our love to hate SMS will function when the OTT services have failed.

The old SMS bundles are inexpensive if you look at their pricing.

 

[Pythonista]

What's a SMS ?

 

[RedViking]

As long as we have spam, we have sms.

 

[RedViking]

What's a SMS ?

Save my Soul

 

[Smugs]

What's a SMS ?

That thing the SABC sends you when you don't pay...

 

[Johnatan56]

Profit margins on those bad boys?

Brilliant business, brilliant staff, not a bad company for devs to work for from what I know.

Profit for whom? The ones selling sms services or the mobile providers?

For the mobile providers, generally good, there are expensive licenses involved though in regards to volumes.

For the ones selling bulk services, very low, you make money off of volume.

 

[jack_black]

The names of the 2 CEO's are swapped in the pic fwiw.

 

[Danie_V]

Point not everyone users WhatsApp or specific messengers, so SMS or USSD will still be required as the guaranteed way to notify someone. We'll always need some guaranteed carrier supposed service, as private individual messengers come and go. Unless maybe RCS get adopted by Apple...

 

[BBSA]

I get 30 free SMSes a month, I only use them to opt out of spam.

 

[rh1]

I misread the title, SMS from the Dead. Disappointed.

 

[The_MAC]

I use SMS for my home alarm system - it's secure