Amazon rolls out PayPhrase authentication

The Amazon PayPhrase system can be used across multiple sites

Online retail giant Amazon has unveiled its new PayPhrase authentication platform which allows buyers to retain a single, easy-to-remember login credential for use across multiple sites.

The service will be available on all web sites which use the Checkout by Amazon payment service.

Users can pick a certain phrase which can be easily remembered. Before checking out, the user simply types the phrase along with a four digit PIN to authorise the purchase and continue with the transaction.

Amazon hopes that the new system will allow users to easily remember and manage a single credential, rather than multiple login and password names.

"With PayPhrase all you need is one phrase and one PIN to pay online," said PayPhrase general manager Matt Williams. "We think customers will enjoy the simplicity that Amazon PayPhrase offers, and we hope they'll have some fun choosing their own personal phrases."

The use of a single login system has become popular with retailers and consumers as the use of e-commerce sites and web shopping continues to rise. Companies such as PayPal and VeriSign have worked to construct secure and convenient single sign-on authentication services.