WeChat launches “micro-number”, so you can make calls without applying for a card in the future

Compared to phone calls, most people today are more accustomed to video chats. But even so, one or two phone cards are still needed. Whether it is a bank card or various software applications, the role of phone cards is irreplaceable.

However, this view is likely to be overturned, because WeChat has launched a new feature, claiming that you can make calls without applying for a card.

The importance of mobile phone cards

What you need to know is that mobile phone cards, commonly known as SIM cards, are an important entrance to the global mobile communication system. Only the device with the card inserted has the function of communication. , when the card is pulled out, it has no call capabilities except emergency calls. In other words, the SIM card is a network access certificate. Even if the device is not turned on, the slowly running power can allow the SIM card to receive some signals.

And from a security perspective, since my country’s mobile phone cards have implemented the real-name system, tracking and management have become particularly convenient, because the mobile phone number is destined to be one person per card when activated, just like an ID card.

In addition, the SIM card also prevents eavesdropping and paralleling in hardware, which highlights the importance of the mobile phone card itself. However, after the upgrading of biometric identification methods such as facial recognition and fingerprint recognition, digital identification no longer seems to be important.

WeChat launches new features

According to Beijing Daily, due to WeChat’s expanding user base, this product that once used simplicity as its main selling point is also trying to continuously expand its business lines and is currently even launching Without the existence of "micro-account" and expanding its business in instant messaging products, it is equivalent to starting a business as an operator.

At present, this so-called "micro-number" actually uses a virtual mobile phone number to make calls and send text messages, which is different from the virtual operator number used by the food delivery platform when contacting customers or riders. Common place.

What are the advantages?

In a sense, the emergence of this kind of virtual mobile phone number is not very late, but the "micro-account" based on a national-level communication software "It has a very clear meaning, and its advantages are mainly reflected in three aspects.

The first one is to protect personal privacy to the greatest extent. Because a mobile phone number is like a personal ID card, with the development of Internet companies, many companies can actually indirectly possess the personal identity information associated with the mobile phone number through application software. Once the database is leaked, it will cause a lot of trouble, and the spread of data Extremely fast, this problem is obviously irreversible. Therefore, as long as the real mobile phone number is prevented from being leaked at the source, the true identity cannot be found even if the database is searched.

Second, the user base is large. Just like the rapid development of QQ and WeChat, the rapid development of "micro accounts" based on WeChat is also expected. Many young people who use WeChat for office work and some corporate users may have a preference for this function. Especially for some bosses, their mobile phone numbers may even be related to some of the company's business in a sense. Once the privacy is leaked, the problem will be huge.

The third point is that most of the major domestic mobile operators have launched a "secondary card" function, that is, the secondary card associated with the main card facilitates individuals to flexibly switch card numbers to distinguish privacy.

However, its tariffs and the existence of various packages are very complicated, and the "micro account" itself does not have so many concerns, it is a virtual identity based on the Internet, and it does not have so many functions.

What are the disadvantages?

But at the same time, the disadvantages of the "micro size" are also very obvious, and they still consist of three parts.

First of all, the "Micro Account" still needs to be based on a basic mobile phone card that can log in to WeChat. This is destined that the "Micro Account" cannot be used as a tool for daily storage and real communication, and cannot replace the SIM. The card serves as an "identity card", so its durability is not very good in the long run.

Secondly, the current charge for "micro account" is 10 yuan per month, which is obviously more expensive than the related "small account" services launched by other operators. Although WeChat has a large user base and the server load is understandable, the charging price should be more evenly distributed. Relying on a larger user base to make people spend more money, how can you say that it is profitable? The feeling of "cutting leeks".

Last but not least, the "micro-account" still requires a network, but a SIM card based on an independent communication network does not. It can even receive messages when it is turned off, and WeChat's Local storage has always been criticized. The inability to fully synchronize chat records often gives people a headache. "Micro accounts" are affected by this and may not be very good in use.

Generally speaking, there are not many application scenarios that the "micro account" itself can support. It is probably a purely experimental product used to explore related businesses. The current competitiveness It is obviously lower than similar products, and it also requires data and main card costs, which is really not worth it. However, in terms of publicity, the launch of virtual mobile phone numbers by national-level software may make the entire market "popular" and become the next trend.

Goodbye, mobile phone number card?

On the one hand, the mobile phone number card is a basic product in the mobile communication era. On the other hand, it is actually a product of the transition from the digital age to the information age. People’s basic information is integrated into a number. In fact, it is inevitable that privacy will be leaked on the chip or in the cloud database, giving some criminals an opportunity to take advantage of it. If mobile phone number cards are no longer used, perhaps these problems can be solved.

In the long term, with the promotion of "face recognition", "iris recognition" technology seems to be entering a critical period. Coupled with unique fingerprint recognition, people in the future may not need Any chip or ID card.

Of course, judging from the current development of "micro-numbers", it is basically impossible to say goodbye to mobile phone number cards. Although people can make calls without mobile phone number cards, bank cards, Passbooks and a series of daily life are inseparable from mobile phone number cards. Just like when mobile phones and PHS first became popular, although people thought that long-term phone calls would cause radiation, they mostly held their mobile phones when communicating this idea. On the phone.

It can be said that mobile devices are important tools that people cannot live without, and before chips and biometric identification capabilities enter a new era, the role of SIM cards is completely irreplaceable.

Especially after going abroad, if there is no network, the function of SIM card based on global mobile communications is the only way for people to contact the outside world.

"Micro accounts" still have a long way to go

Another thing to note is that technological progress and development are not just about software technology. Hardware development is about breaking through technical barriers. In an important way, "micro account" can actually be renamed as "WeChat secondary card" or "WeChat virtual account". No matter how the name changes, the technology itself has been used many times, and it can even be said that WeChat launched This business is trying to "segment" the market.

Generally speaking, mobile phone number cards may still be a must-have for mobile phones for a long time in the future, but it may help awaken more manufacturers to invest in call privacy. This It may bring certain benefits to operators and mobile phone manufacturers in establishing better and more secure mobile communications.