If you happen to be a Facebook developer, you’ve likely utilized the company’s Account Kit on a number of occasions. This authentication solution relies on users providing a valid phone number and an email address, both of which are then used to confirm their identity. As such, Account Kit is not an alternative to Facebook Login, but a product designed to complement it. According to one of Facebook’s developers Ethan Goldman-Kirst, initial Account Kit deployment was a resounding success, and most developers managed to seamlessly integrate it into their apps. Following that testing phase, Facebook is now debuting another verification solution as a part of the latest version of the Facebook software development kit (SDK) for Android.
The idea of this new addition is to provide developers with even better tools for user verification. More specifically, Facebook debuted a solution for instant verification on Android devices designed to circumvent SMS authentication when people try to log in using their phone numbers. The new Account Kit for Android utilizes technology capable of automatically verifying users’ phone numbers listed on their Facebook profiles. For example, if a user attempts to log into an app utilizing this solution and inputs their phone number, the Account Kit will proceed to locate their Facebook profile and see whether the phone number listed on the profile is the same one they’ve used in the app. If it is, the account will be verified instantly, and no subsequent SMS verification will be required.
Of course, a solution that’s entirely reliant on Facebook to verify identities has some limitations. For one, this new Account Kit functionality won’t work if a user doesn’t have a Facebook app installed on their device. Furthermore, even if a Facebook app is present on the device, one needs to be logged into it for this instant verification solution to work. Now, while people may be worried about third-party apps accessing their Facebook information, Goldman-Kirst assured the public that this solution shares no other information with independently developed software.
Finally, the company’s initial testing of this feature demonstrated an impressive 97% conversion rate. In other words, a smoother verification process leads to fewer people giving up on an app before trying it out. You can find out more technical details about this functionality by following the source link below.