After having raised over $30 million in new investment capital and selling out pre-orders last month, Silent Circle is set to begin shipping the first batch of Blackphone devices three weeks from now, according to Phil Zimmermann (News - Alert), the company's CEO.
The Blackphone runs a version of Android called PrivatOS, and is marketed to businesses and consumers who are looking for a secure device that prohibits government agencies from snooping around, all while giving them back the control when it comes to deciding whether or not to share their personal data. And in an age when call recording has become a ubiquitous presence—used for both good business and bad—this new phone may be greeted with open arms.
It may seem odd that a device looking to lock things down runs on Google (News - Alert)'s open Android OS, but Silent Circle say the funds it has received in private investments allows them to offer a truly secure device for individuals wanting control over their own information.
Some quick Blackphone specs:
- 4.7-inch HD screen
- 2GHz Quad-core processor
- 16GB of memory
- 8MP camera
- Android (News - Alert) 4.4
It is not the specs, however, that make the Blackphone what it is. The PrivatOS locks down system level implementations as well as applications that sit above the operating system. The device offers Secure Circle services including secure and encrypted VoIP, encrypted text messaging and it will even prevent apps from trying to read your contact list.
Image via pcmag.com
Silent Circle has partnered with GeekPhone on this project, the Spanish company that launched its first phone in 2009 called the Geekphone One, which ran Android 1.5 at the time.
In addition to its Washington D.C. and London offices, Silent Circle also announced the relocation of its global headquarters to Switzerland, a country known for its neutrality and strong privacy laws.
“The move to Switzerland will allow us the ability to scale Silent Circle's rapid adoption by businesses, governments and individual pro-sumers around the world,” said Silent Circle’s chief of revenue Vic Hyder.
The Blackphone will cost $629 to purchase and will be sold through various carriers across a number of different regions.
Edited by Alisen Downey