Phone verification?

[rds100]

We are currently using MaxMind's phone verification to verify all orders. However as you probably know MaxMind is shutting down this service at the end of the year.

So what do you guys use for phone verification? Is there any other similar alternative?

I could code something to do it, but if there is some ready commercial solution / service - i'd rather use that instead. Would be one less thing to maintain and worry about.

 

[trewq]

I was actually thinking about developing this and offering it as a service.


What exactly would you require and what cost were you thinking? I feel like with MaxMind exiting I will be able to fill their place.


Looking for anyone else's input with the features and cost too.

 

[rds100]

@trewq i don't have any cost figure in mind, probably something like what maxmind's model was - preload some credits, and then every call costs something (probably different price per country / destination).

 

[trewq]

@rds100 I'll put some numbers together tomorrow and see if it's viable and I'll let you know.

 

[KuJoe]

We used to do phone verification but the trolls would use up a lot of money a month so we stopped using it.

 

[trewq]

We used to do phone verification but the trolls would use up a lot of money a month so we stopped using it.

If it's done right this shouldn't happen. It should stop after the second retry and have other checking algorithms in place. It seems like everything that is currently in the market is just built to call people and take your money instead of protecting you, its clients.

 

[KuJoe]

If it's done right this shouldn't happen. It should stop after the second retry and have other checking algorithms in place. It seems like everything that is currently in the market is just built to call people and take your money instead of protecting you, its clients.

I agree. What I saw happen was a user would enter a phone number for a country that cost us almost a dollar per call, then they would answer the phone (at least I really hope they were, because Maxmind states they only charge for answered calls) and within seconds request a callback and do this multiple times per account. I started disallowing orders from countries that cost more than $0.60 per call to make it harder for them to eat up our credits, but it didn't stop them it just slowed them down.

 

[rds100]

Yes, it would make sense to limit this to maximum 1 or 2 calls or sms per customer, for more you need to open a ticket.

Also a phone number that was already used by another customer should be blocked.

Also the system should be able to identify and reject premium rate and possibly VoIP phone numbers.

 

[MannDude]

However as you probably know MaxMind is shutting down this service at the end of the year.

Nope. Did not know.

 

[RTGHM]

You know, I wrote a system for phone verification for a company (which I won't name), I just used Twilio API + Toll-Free 1-800 phone number, and you can use the TEXT api, or CALL api, I used text, it sends them a text from a toll free number, they have to respond with a code the website gives them, and once they do that, it sends the text through the API to your systems, you verify the code is correct, if it is, you allow register, etc.

I might have a copy of the code laying around if you want it, let me look for it.

 

[comXyz]

@trewq I would like to see your phone verification service online too

 

[rds100]

There is also TeleSign, but the require $100/month minumum sales. Someone might decide to aggregate the verification from a bunch of providers and start reselling TeleSign's verification. I think MaxMind was using them.

 

[trewq]

Ok, I've done some number crunching and this is extremely viable for me. Max cost will be $0.50 and that will only be for a couple of countries with the rest sitting at about $0.25 per successful verification.


You will be able to disable things like VoIP numbers, certain countries and even people roaming in different countries if they are using a mobile. This is just off the top of my head, lots more options available.


I would prefer to offer this as a post paid service or have a flat fee for all number and you just buy "packs".


Thoughts?

 

[rds100]

Any ETA for the first beta version?

Btw 25 cents per call is cheaper than what maxmind charges for most countries. There are the rates they had - https://www.maxmind.com/en/phone_rate

 

[trewq]

Any ETA for the first beta version?


Btw 25 cents per call is cheaper than what maxmind charges for most countries. There are the rates they had - https://www.maxmind.com/en/phone_rate

Yeah, their prices are really high. The only eta I can give you at the moment is before January, once I actually start development I'll be able to give a specific date.

 

[rds100]

Ok, start thinking on how to make the backend side (get https://trewq.com/makecall?licensekey=fghqhdh&phone=%2b12345678&pin=1234). I'll start thinking on how to tie it in WHMCS - already have some ideas about this, will see if i have time on Monday to test something.

 

[trewq]

Hooking it into WHMCS will be my biggest issue. I've only made a couple of plugins before but like anything else, once the ball is rolling it gets done pretty quickly.

 

[KuJoe]

The WHMCS plugin is the easy part. Once you get the backend shaped out, there are plenty of us who can knock out the WHMCS plugin overnight. You just need to do all of the heavy lifting.

 

[trewq]

The WHMCS plugin is the easy part. Once you get the backend shaped out, there are plenty of us who can knock out the WHMCS plugin overnight. You just need to do all of the heavy lifting.

I'm fine with that! I'll let you guys know when I've got some docs written.

 

[RTGHM]

Ok, I've done some number crunching and this is extremely viable for me. Max cost will be $0.50 and that will only be for a couple of countries with the rest sitting at about $0.25 per successful verification.


You will be able to disable things like VoIP numbers, certain countries and even people roaming in different countries if they are using a mobile. This is just off the top of my head, lots more options available.


I would prefer to offer this as a post paid service or have a flat fee for all number and you just buy "packs".


Thoughts?

Not bad pricing, but for me I can get at 2 cents per 2 text messages(incoming or outgoing), and 8 cents per minute on call time (if I change a few things, I can lower it to 4 cents per minute).