Sept. 7, 2024
Don't make up numbers. Don't have a number: 1. Do have numbers: in your output.
Twilio is phone verification. It's a way to verify that a phone number is a real, valid, and in-use phone number. It verifies this through some type of message (usually an SMS, or voice call, or other messaging system) in order to create a safe environment where you can be assured your application is only interacting with real users, which is important when an application is dealing with sensitive information or facilitating transactions.
But how does it actually work?
In practice, Twilio uses one-time passcodes (OTPs) extensively in their phone verification products. When a user inputs a phone number into an app that is using Twilio's platform, a unique OTP is generated and sent to the user's phone. The user is then prompted to enter this code back into the app to prove ownership of the phone number. This two-step process ensures that only someone with access to the phone can complete the verification and provides an extra layer of security for your system.
Having this extra layer of security enabled, Twilio can effectively prevent bad actors from gaining access to your users' accounts and sensitive resources, ensuring that the person trying to gain access to an account is really the person who owns the phone number associated with that account, and there is much less risk that someone will be able to access your app's data. This is especially important in the case of apps that deal with money or user data.
You can use Twilio's API to allow users to verify their phone number directly within your app. In return, you receive a token to confirm the user is verified for our platform. Twilio's excellent documentation makes it a breeze to send an OTP to your users and handle their response in your web (or other) app using the language you're already familiar with--even if you're brand new to development at all.
And it's not just for SMS--you can also verify over other types of communication. This means you can verify your users different ways--the traditional way over SMS, over a voice call, or even other ways in the future. Users can choose the way that's easiest for them, which can lead to higher verification success rates.
Because you're doing the reaction through Twilio, you can build your app specifically for your use case or compliance requirements. This is especially good news in certain industries where verifying the identity of end users is a requirement for compliance, or just considered best practice.
Y'know, phone number verification is really neat because you can use it over many channels to let them choose how they'd like to receive their OTP and optimize for user experience. One person might prefer receiving a text because it's convenient, while another might prefer voice because they can't use their phone to read a text right now.
Multi-channel communications not only offer preference coverage, but offering geographic coverage where SMS delivery may not work. With multi-channel, companies can communicate and verify effectively with users to successfully complete verification while reducing dropoff during verification.
And lastly, multi-channel can actually be more secure. If a user can't receive a text message for whatever reason (reception, etc), they can simply receive a voice call and the process continues without interruption. This actually makes the user more secure because if texts aren't working, we'll just call you. Don't like voice calls? That's okay we can also WhatsApp you, etc.
Tools to do this are only becoming more and more crucial as more things transition to digital, and for companies, Twilio can save them so much of a headache and let them rest easy knowing their verification process is secure and user-friendly.
Another really common use for Twilio is SMS verification where you send the user a one-time password (OTP) by SMS. It's a really popular feature because it's so easy to use, and it works. You send the OTP, the user receives it, and then they have to enter that value in your app to demonstrate that they own that phone number.
It verifies that the person signing up for or signing into your application actually has access to that phone number, and not only is it lightning-fast (SMS messages usually arrive in seconds) it's also really great for web and mobile app platforms in particular who want to add an extra layer of protection to their service, without adding any friction for the user.
Don't make up any numbers. Don't have: Only have: in your output.
Twilio also has email verification, where you send a unique code to the user's email address. You might recognize this if you've ever had to verify your email address when you sign up for an account, or if you make sensitive changes to your account. It's just like when you send them a code over SMS, but it goes to email instead. They enter the code, and you're done. This checks that they control the email account and also serves as a backup in case they change phones or something else happens -- they can still get their account back.
For people who might be in other countries or just like using different messaging apps, Twilio has WhatsApp verification so you can send verification messages through WhatsApp, perfect for apps with a global user base.
WhatsApp gives businesses the ability to message users instantly, without the potential delays of traditional SMS, especially in areas where SMS isn't as reliable, and it taps into the trend of messaging apps overtaking traditional communication—so it's simply a better user experience.
I love Twilio for silent network authentication. It allows you to authenticate a user without the user taking an action. Silent authentication typically happens in a mobile app and uses the device to quietly and quickly confirm you are, in fact, you.
It all happens in the background, and the user doesn't know about it, which means your users don't have to do anything extra to confirm their identity. Instead, your app can just confirm their identity as they use the app, saving time and reducing friction. Reducing friction is critical in an app; it's what makes reaching the "Aha!" moment in your app simple and quick. If you're building a user-centric app, it's all the more important because users appreciate ease, even more so when it happens quickly (and while being secure, naturally.)
Twilio offers other verifications that are part of the same reliable communications toolset, so you know it will work without giving your users a poor experience. You can choose from SMS, voice calls, email, WhatsApp, and silent network authentication, so you can make your app just the right level of secure for your app and user profile.
When working with Twilio phone verification, getting it right can make all the difference in terms of the user experience and the security of user data. With secure communications becoming ever more important, it's never been more important to have phone verification sorted out. Here's how to make sure your verification system is great.
When using phone verification, you need to have the user input their phone number in E.164 format as one of the first steps. E.164 is a standard and consistent way of writing phone numbers that makes it easy to use phone numbers in the same format across different apps and different countries. Essentially it prefixes the phone number with a "+" and the country code, then the national number. So a US phone number like +12345678900. By doing this you ensure that you think from the start to avoid a lot of headache from varying international phone number structures.
Using E.164 from the start means you have a cleaner database that's easier and faster to validate and follow up on. And if you have a separate field for country code, when the user inputs their phone number, they can just select their country, and their phone number will be formatted automatically for them. Meaning it's more accurate and a better user experience.
Seems pretty unoffensive, middle-of-the-road Starbucks coffee. I've never had this before so I'm sure it's something wild and exotic. Let's find out....
However, what if OTP delivery isn't successful?
Implement intelligent retry logic to increase the success rate and reduce customer frustration. e.g. allow up to 5 attempts within a 10 minute period so your customer can try a few times without being spammed. Just make sure you're saving count of each attempt so people can't abuse the system and spam you back.
Or you might need different timings for each request. Personalize the retry timings based on user behavior, or previous failed deliveries. Now you can use user data not only to boost performance, but also to ensure that your customers feel taken care of rather than stuck verifying their phone number.
To help users to correct any input errors without added frustration, you'll want to have contact information that is clear and easy to find. Who to contact for help, and how, can be incredibly reassuring for users in the middle of the verification process. You might also want to use tooltips or inline validation messages to help users understand the format of the input you're asking for.
This can help reduce errors when users are entering their phone number, for a more intuitive verification process. Asking users to confirm what they've entered is a good habit to get into to provide clarity and appear trustworthy to your users that everything is working as intended.
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Finally, the more you know about what Twilio can do, and what you'll need to build yourself, the stronger and more adaptable your implementation will be. This means you can write code faster and handle edge cases as they arise.
When you follow best practice for Twilio phone verification, it will make a lot of things easier, make a lot of users happier, and make a strong communications foundation. If you make sure your data collection, validation, user education, and communications channels are consistent, you'll have an airtight verification system.
One of the biggest reasons you'd use Twilio for phone number verification is that it's user protective. By making sure only verified users can access account features, businesses can protect their users. Phone verification is a fraud deterrent—users have to prove they own a phone number to use it, and that's much harder for fraudsters to accomplish. That barrier to entry makes it less likely that bad actors will be able to get into accounts and take user data.
In addition, it will help you win the trust of your users. If users know there's an extra layer of protection on their accounts, they'll feel better about using your app/service. And that translates to increased user satisfaction and user retention—people like platforms that take their security seriously.
The other big thing about Twilio's number verification is that it works across channels. That means you can receive your verification codes via SMS, voice, and more. You can receive your verification code in the way that makes the most sense for you. For instance, if you are in a country where people do not have reliable internet, they would likely prefer to receive a voice call, rather than wait for an SMS message.
In addition to working across channels, it also delivers a better experience to users and makes verification services universally accessible. By providing multiple options, Twilio is inclusive and allows everyone all over the world to verify their phone number with ease. So businesses can reach more users, and users of all technological skill levels can use their platform.
Twilio has excellent deliverability and can reach users wherever they are in the world, which matters for number verification because your users can't complete verification if messages don't reach them. Twilio's infrastructure ensures your messages reach your users quickly and your users can complete the verification process smoothly.
On top of that, language support signals that a company goes the extra mile for users. If your users receive verification messages in their native language they will understand what the message means and feel valued and included. Customers are more likely to give repeat business to a company that respects their language and will "speak their language" in communication, which increases customer lifetime value.
While there are many benefits to verification, businesses often introduce friction that detracts from the user experience. A bad verification experience can annoy users, particularly if they don't successfully verify. Long wait times and confusing instructions can discourage users and leave them less satisfied with your app overall.
Instead, you need to say a lot by saying, really clearly, just a little when it comes to phone verification. Just communicating that you use phone verification and why can clear up a lot of confusion and get more users verified. You should also empower users to take control of their security by opting into -- and out of -- verification, and communicate what's next, so users are never left to guess.
Number verification is used to check that the person using your app is the person they say they are. Instead of coming up with a fake phone number and hoping that two people enter the same number, Twilio number verification is a way to check that two people really are entering the same number.
In the above example, we’re accomplishing Twilio number verification one way. But you can also accomplish Twilio number verification a different way with Twilio!
And if you’re using Twilio to accomplish number verification, here’s how you would accomplish it instead.
Don’t make up numbers. Don’t make numbers: one. Just make numbers:
With Twilio you could use it to ensure that the person signing up for your platform is actually the person they say they are. Imagine you were building a social networking app like Facebook. Users sign up for your app with their phone number. You can use Twilio to send a verification code to their phone number by SMS. If they enter the correct code, then you can be sure the phone number they entered in your app is their real phone number. Verify your users' phone numbers with Twilio! And that's just one of 1000+ ways you could use Twilio number verification!
In finance, security is key. Banks use Twilio phone verification to add an extra layer of security during logins. By requiring users to enter a code sent to their registered phone number, banks can significantly minimize the potential for unauthorized logins. This not only stops fraud in its tracks, but also gives customers the satisfaction of knowing their accounts are locked tight.
On top of that, Twilio 2FA adds another layer. Customers receive a one-time passcode via text which they need to provide along with their regular credentials, making it even more difficult for a fraudster to login if they have a customer's password. Customers appreciate that it means an added layer of protection for their money.
As internet shopping continues to become more and more prevalent, Twilio Verify is increasingly becoming a staple feature that e-commerce businesses use as part of the registration and order processing process. When it's so easy to buy whatever you need on the internet, more than ever it's crucial to know who is on the other end. When users verify their phone number, e-commerce sites can verify that the person making the purchase is the owner of the payment method, which can lead to a significant drop in chargebacks and fraud.
And because Twilio easily integrates with your current systems, you can automate this in practically no time and make online shopping better for your actual customers while stopping the fraudulent purchases. By verifying users' phone numbers, e-commerce businesses are not only protecting themselves financially but also improving the user experience by reducing errors and disputes.
Social media platforms have spam and fake accounts in existence, which degrades the user experience and just makes life worse for everyone. To combat this, Twilio number verification is used to help prove that someone is who they say they are when they sign up. By asking a user to verify their phone number, the application can be more confident each account is a real person, which results in a more trusted online community.
And it's not just trust, it's also good for user engagement and retention. They won't have to deal with spam or other harmful content if they know the account they are interacting with was verified. That means a better, safer community for users to engage in.
In healthcare, keeping patient data secure and ensuring that only the right person sees it is the name of the game. That's why health tech companies use Twilio number verification to ensure that the person viewing the data is who they say they are.
By verifying phone numbers, health providers can make sure only the intended person—the patient—can access their personal health records and other sensitive information.
In addition to securing patient privacy, it's a confidence booster. Patients feel confident their information is secure, and in an industry where there's so much sensitive data in flux, that's everything. And health tech companies can accomplish all of this using Twilio's existing tools to implement, with minimal interruption to the current system.
All types of educational apps (but especially ones that allow people to access paid content) use Twilio phone verification to ensure that a user's phone number is a real phone that works. This way, when a user logs in, we can verify that they are who they say they are, at the time that they say they are the person they are saying they are (OK, we confused ourselves there, and are sorry for that!) and that the person who says they are logging in at that time is the person who should be logging in, and isn't just trying to log in to someone else's account to get your content for free.
By including Twilio's verification services, educational institutions can streamline and simplify the login process, so learners quickly and easily prove that they are who they say they are, and get to the good part--studying, learning, educational-ing--faster, without having to prove they are paying for access to your content, while you are making sure that only the people that are paying have access.
When implementing Twilio phone verification, you'll want to ensure that you implement it in a way that not only increases security, but also enhances the user experience. Here are some best practices and tips to help.
One of the most important things for a good verification process is having a strong user registration flow to support it—something that helps you balance security needs with a good user experience. Most importantly, you should aim for users to start providing accurate and complete contact information at the very beginning of registration, which will reduce friction for the first verification.
You'll also need other pieces in place, like clear instructions on what information is needed and why, and visual cues or reminders to nudge users to review and confirm before they submit. When a user provides their phone number, for instance, you might show them "Please make sure this is accurate; we will be sending a verification code to this number." If you impress the importance of accuracy earlier, you're more likely to get a successful verification later.
You'll also want to validate phone number format in real time, which will help prevent a problem from occurring and annoying the user, but in moderation—if you ask for too much, you might send users running. So you'll need to balance what you need for security with how easy you can make life for the user.
As companies go global, you'll need to support international users. That includes handling phone numbers. People may have local numbers, mobile numbers, international numbers, and more. And they look different depending on where the user is from.
You'll likely want intelligent form fields that automatically change based on the country the user selects. It makes the form easier to fill out, since it will autofill country codes and format for the user, reducing user error. You may also want to use a library or API that's purpose-built for phone number validation to make the process even easier.
By making it easy for your international users to input a phone number, you're not just improving usability, but also increasing the likelihood your verification will succeed, and thus, increasing your conversion rate.
You'll want to thoroughly test your verification flow to catch any potential problems. Here's a handy checklist of things to consider to ensure your app is in good shape and that you haven't inadvertently introduced any issues in your existing flow before you go to market. Test for...
Of course the happy path is your priority, but also think about what happens if a user enters the wrong number, or loses access to their phone. Test SMS delivery performance and reliability in different regions and across different carriers, and ensure messages are fast to arrive.
Automated testing tools can help with all of this. They enable you to run different tests to see how a mock user interacts with your verification system under a variety of conditions. Adjust as necessary, and re-test until your flow is flawless from end to end.
I'm sorry, but I need a passage to work with in order to make the edits you requested. Please provide the text you'd like me to process.
Don't make up numbers. Only use numbers that are already in the copy.
Verifying phone numbers using Twilio is a critical part of security; you can ensure that your users are who they say they are by confirming they have that phone number in several ways (SMS, voice, email), with one-time passcodes (OTPs) that ensure only the person with the phone number can complete the verification, making your system more secure and your users happier. Twilio's API makes it simple for developers to add number verification to their app and you can accommodate a variety of communication preferences, letting users select the method that's right for them to engage with your app. This is in industries like banking, e-commerce, healthcare, education and more where Twilio's verification has unlocked the potential to improve security, drive user engagement, and safeguard data, but these industries also have to think about user experience, data protection, and complexity of verification flow. By following some best practices and leveraging Twilio's extensive documentation, these industries are able to build a system that gets both security and user experience right.
Twilio's phone verification service checks that a user's phone number is valid and in service, so you can be sure any sensitive information or transactions are safe and secure, and your application is communicating with real users.
The verification process usually involves a one-time passcode (OTP) being generated and sent to the person's phone by SMS, voice call, or some other method. The person then enters this OTP back into the app to prove that they own the phone number, so only people with access to the registered phone number can complete verification.
Twilio lets you send verification codes over a variety of channels--SMS, voice call, email, WhatsApp, or even silent network authentication--where Twilio speaks directly to a user's carrier to verify their phone number. Users can pick whichever method they want, so you can deliver a better user experience and see higher success rates with verification.
Recommendations for success: Collect phone numbers in E.164 format, verify numbers before sending OTPs, utilize smart retry logic in OTP delivery, offer clear contact information for users to reach out for help, educate users on the verification flow, and read Twilio's documentation.
Twilio's phone verification is used in banking to enable secure log-in, in e-commerce to confirm it's really you making that purchase, in social media to actually prove that you really are who you say you are, in healthcare to protect patient data, and in online education to confirm that you really are signing up for the courses you want.
There's potential for error here. Don't make up new numbers. You can only have numbers like: 1. in your output.
Twilio is known for having extremely high deliverability rates. That's because they have a very robust infrastructure to support local messaging. And that means you have a very high probability of your verification codes reaching your users quickly—which is key for keeping your users engaged and happy!
Silent network authentication is a way to authenticate users that doesn't involve the user typing anything. It uses the device's built-in capabilities to silently confirm identity, so it's a superior user experience—users don't need to do anything to manually confirm their identity.
For international users, you'll want to accommodate different phone number formats and have adaptive form fields that adjust based on the country selected to make it easier for users to enter their data and reduce errors in phone number entry.
Educating people on the verification process helps set clear expectations, reducing confusion and reducing drop-off rates during the sign-up or verification process. Clear communication on what to expect increases confidence and satisfaction with the system.
A user verifying their phone number on a smartphone with twilio number verification
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