Using successive levels of authentication in online commerce

A mediator for facilitating authentication of software use rights, the mediator comprising:

• a network server that is coupled to at least one communication network to receive a user communication from a first user's mobile device, the communication relating to use of software,
• wherein the network server performs a verification of the first user's mobile device and/or the first user,
• wherein the network server transmits, in response to a determination that the verification for the first user has been successful, a first code to the first user's mobile device enabling use of the software for a time period by the first user,
• wherein, in response to the network server receiving a request to send a recommendation regarding the software to a second user having a mobile device, the received request being received from the first user's mobile device and including an address of the second user's mobile device, the network server performs a verification of the second user's mobile device and/or the second user, and
• wherein the network server transmits a second access or activation code to the first user enabling further use of the software by the user in response to a determination that the verification for the second user has been successful.