SMS has a unique advantage that no other channel has: No user onboard needed. Got a SIM ? got SMS.
I send lots of 2FA SMS for a number of banks here in Europe and they - because of the costs after PSD2[1] went live - want users to use their app for getting notifications as 2FA. They have launched several communication campaigns over the last 2-3 years, but only 30% of users have migrated from SMS to in-app notifications, mostly because they won't even install their app.
Then, we have uses cases where users don't have a regular relation with your business (p.e. e-sign for consumer goods financing on spot). In this case, I would say that SMS is the only channel you have to serve these users.
For better or worse, I do not see SMS disappearing anytime soon.
There are people who don't have a cell phone because they see it as a distraction engine that will gobble up their life. Digital addictive drugs. But it's almost impossible to maintain this stance in modern life. Have you seen the trend of restaurants that no longer print menus? Instead there is a QR code that opens up their website to get the menu. Every service now wanting SMS verification adds to their problems.
It's not only about having a SIM but also have one 'they' like. I am with a small provider here in Switzerland (that is the daughter of the biggest provider) and things like Twitter, Twitch, .. don't even support that number for whatever reason.
I personally only use throwaway rental numbers on the web, basically giving me the worst security possible for any kind of account that falls back to SMS for security.
I know people who have tried to save money or tried to avoid giving money to unethical companies by only having a virtual phone number. Turns out that virtual SMS numbers are treated like radioactive Ebola by most services.
It's a lot more complex than that actually. With Signalwire for example you can rent Canadian (and US) numbers at 0.2/m that work well with surprisingly many services, but not all. In a similar fashion you always find the right company to use/abuse any service that asks for a number. You won't get around the internet with a single cheap VOIP number tho. Plus there are providers with more or less perfect Sims but they are expensive.
There are also services that are specialized on providing the right number for a one time fee. This usually works well, but more often than not destroys future account security (they all will give numbers out again, not relevant what they claim)
I could literally write a book about my life without a 'real' phone number.
Things like my bank refusing to work with me over the phone because the person literally did not believe I could have a number starting with 666. That's timeless :)
I have asked for a paper menu in these cases and almost all restaurants have been happy to oblige. One time the restaurant let me use their ipad to see the menu.
I wouldn’t count on this, but I’m trying to give a business money. Most are happy to satisfy reasonable requests.
I was at a food court recently where one of the restaurants didn't have a menu. Just a QR. I asked, and there's no paper version available. I asked what they do for blind people and got a blank stare.
So I went to the restaurant next door. If you can't even bother to scribble a menu on a chalkboard, you're not a real business.
>Instead there is a QR code that opens up their website to get the menu.
This is a trend here in Brazil. And do they send you to a lightweight, mobile-optimized web page? No way in hell, you can be pretty damn sure they will send you to a 20MB PDF that was designed for printing.
Well yes, doesn't literally everything need a phone number to work these days? Can't open a bank account, can't get paid, can't pay bills, can't exist.
> but only 30% of users have migrated from SMS to in-app notifications, mostly because they won't even install their app.
You say 'even' but it's hard to make sure apps aren't able to track me at all, and I while I trust my bank to keep my money safe I don't trust their app to be tracker-free.
I send lots of 2FA SMS for a number of banks here in Europe and they - because of the costs after PSD2[1] went live - want users to use their app for getting notifications as 2FA. They have launched several communication campaigns over the last 2-3 years, but only 30% of users have migrated from SMS to in-app notifications, mostly because they won't even install their app.
Then, we have uses cases where users don't have a regular relation with your business (p.e. e-sign for consumer goods financing on spot). In this case, I would say that SMS is the only channel you have to serve these users.
For better or worse, I do not see SMS disappearing anytime soon.
[1] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/payment-services-psd-2-directi...