The use of mobile devices to access business systems has now become a commonplace. The ability to view and digitally sign documents from a mobile device is an essential requirement when choosing a signing platform. However what is often not understood is that there are different levels of mobile signing, with varying degrees of what is actually performed on the mobile device: 


  • Mobile device is used to initiate the signing process – the signing key is located on the server and signature takes place there, however the user initiates the process from their mobile device.
  • Mobile device is used to authorise the signing process – this is where the user’s mobile is sent a One Time Password (OTP) code as a form of authentication.
  • Mobile device is used to actually sign the document – this is the true form of mobile signing, i.e. the user’s signature key actually resides on the mobile device and the document signature is created on the mobile device.


See also