Private communications specialist Silent Circle and open source handset producer Geeksphone have announced a joint venture to produce a security-focussed smartphone.
The new device is called Blackphone. It runs a custom version of Android called PrivatOS and enables users to make and receive secure phone calls, chat by video, exchange secure texts and transfer files “without compromising user privacy on the device”.
Phil Zimmermann, the creator of PGP (Pretty Good Privacy) and co-founder of Silent Circle, said “I have spent my whole career working towards the launch of secure telephony products. Blackphone provides users with everything they need to ensure privacy and control of their communications, along with all the other high-end smartphone features they have come to expect.”
Blackphone will be available for pre-order from 24th February at Mobile World Congress 2014.