AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon have been talking for a couple years now about rolling out a new security solution for consumers, and this week it's officially gone live in some mobile apps.
ZenKey is a joint venture between the three major US carriers, and it's a "network-based identity solution" that aims to make it easier for consumers to log in to their various accounts. Users register their apps and online accounts with ZenKey and then they don't have to manage multiple passwords for their accounts.
To fight identity thieves and protect consumers, ZenKey uses a multi-factor authentication based on details that are related to the user's wireless network. Those include their phone number, SIM card details, phone account type, account tenure, and user credentials.
Once you've downloaded the ZenKey app, you can set it up with your credentials and use a fingerprint or face scan to further secure the ZenKey app itself. The app keeps track of which other apps have access to your ZenKey info, like your name, phone number, and mailing address, and you can choose which of these details you want to allow access to.
Then when you use an app that supports ZenKey login, you can tap the "Sign in with ZenKey" to log in rather than entering a username and password.
ZenKey login currently works on the LiveXLive and Verizon My Fios apps as well as the websites for AT&T TV, DirecTV, myAT&T, AT&T TV Now, and "Currently, from AT&T".
