Thailand's mobile giant Advanced Info Service (AIS) has introduced the country's first identity verification system.
The newly launched service allows customers to confirm their identity through its retail channels AIS Shop, AIS Buddy, Telewiz, and AIS partner stores, covering 16,277 locations nationwide.
In the near future, the myAIS app will also be able to offer such a verification service and act as public identity provider. This means customers will soon be able to perform transactions, including opening online bank accounts and mutual funds or purchasing various kinds of insurance.
The service came about through a partnership between AIS, the National Digital ID Co and the Identity Provider Agent. The safety of the service is also in line with the Electronic Transactions Development Agency and the Bank of Thailand's standards.
Pratthana Leelapanang, AIS chief consumer business officer, said his company had made huge strides in rolling out different digital services to support people's lifestyles in the digital age, particularly with services involving financial transactions.
Pratthana Leelapanang, AIS chief consumer business officer
"Thai consumers are already among the highest-ranked globally when it comes to spending through the mobile banking system," Mr Pratthana said. But there were other transactions such as opening accounts, applying for mutual funds and taking out insurance, which are showing similar growth rates.
"As a result, we have expanded the service to channels in which customers can verify their ID on their phones through the myAIS app, which currently has over 33 million active users per month," Mr Pratthana said. "The upcoming public identity provider will give customers more alternatives to use the service, while they will no longer be required to travel to branches or service points. This not only gives them convenience, but reduces the risk of personal contact, and has a high degree of accuracy."
He assured consumers of the service's safety, saying only users can access their unique service user ID, as the identity assurance level that AIS uses is recognised internationally to reduce ID verification errors.