Our Top Technology Predictions for Australia in 2015

Last updated: 10 February 2015

Technology is constantly evolving in today’s digital society. Major analyst firms like IDC and Gartner are predicting an explosion in the Internet of Things (IoT) and wider adoption of smart machines  in 2015. In Australia, our take on the top trends for this year are as follows:

  1. Demand for biometric security

According to PwC’s 2015 Global State of Information Security Survey, there were more than 42 million security incidents in 2014, equivalent to more than 117,000 attacks per day. To mitigate these threats, governments, financial organisations and retailers are now exploring biometric solutions for secure user authentication.

Using a fingerprint, iris scan, voiceprint or facial matching can provide strong evidence of the user, but they open the door to abuse and privacy issues. The recent vulnerabilities uncovered in Apple’s TouchID highlight that businesses using biometric technology must put robust security in place before customers will accept it.

  1. The next step in contactless and mobile payment technology

The adoption of mobile payments has steadily increased in recent years. Shorter queues and more efficient checkouts are driving more and more countries towards “cashless” societies. The latest Capgemini World Payments Report projects worldwide mobile payments will grow 60% by the end of 2015.

The possibilities for contactless technology, however, are not limited to payments. Transport and ticketing are other areas where contactless technology is used to improve efficiency and convenience. For example, our NFC solution in Bejing enabled China Mobile to roll out mobile transit services in Beijing. This will allow over 22 million daily commuters in the city to use their smartphones to ride their metros.

  1. Growing Need for Mobile ID

Mobile ID is a service that allows consumers to use their mobile phone as a form of secure electronic ID.  It is simple and convenient for users, and allows authorities to streamline the identification process. With robust security measures in place, governments can store a driver’s license and other identity cards securely within citizens’ mobile devices.

One great example is BankID of Norway. We have worked with them to create a nationwide system for robust electronic authentication and legally-binding digital signatures. The mobile BankID service works across all networks and phone types, and has already been adopted by over 270 service providers in Norway, including major banks and other commercial organizations.

What do you think will be the biggest trends in Australia in 2015? Let us know in the comments section below.

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