Blackphone is touted as the world's most secure phone and is aiming to shift the focus of the smartphone market back to privacy and security. The phone is now shipping to all who pre-ordered the device.
We initially heard about the Blackphone earlier this year when we found out it would be running a custom version of Android called PrivatOS. A joint venture between Silent Circle and Geeksphone, the device certainly peaked a lot of interest as many users were wondering how exactly it would give them more privacy.
We later received a press release confirming the official specs of the device, revealing a NVIDIA Tegra 4i processor at its core. We also got a bigger glimpse into what was so secure about the device. The Blackphone will provide privacy enabled applications, years of key security subscriptions, remote wipe with anti-theft features, and smart disabling of WiFi (except in trusted hotspots).
Priced at $630 off contract, Blackphone will support all GSM carriers and will be arriving to the doors of its pre-order customers shortly. Be sure to check out the press release below:
Blackphone Shipping World's First Privacy-Optimized Smartphone
Handsets now shipping to customers; Web store re-opens July 14 for new orders
GENEVA, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – SGP Technologies SA, the Switzerland-based joint venture of Silent Circle and Geeksphone behind Blackphone, today announced that Blackphone handsets have started shipping to the device's first pre-order customers. SGP Technologies formally launched Blackphone earlier this year at Mobile World Congress (MWC). There is overwhelming demand for the phone's focus on user privacy and the unmatched array of integrated features for private communications, browsing, and cloud storage that make Blackphone a category-defining leader in privacy phones. Most recently,MIT Technology Review recognized Blackphone on its prestigious list of the "10 Breakthrough Technologies" of 2014. In addition, Blackphone has won two other awards since its media launch: "The 10 Best Products at MWC 2014″ and 2014 Red Herring Europe Top 100 Winner.
"We are excited to achieve this key milestone on schedule and ship a remarkable device to customers that is the result of an unprecedented combination of privacy and mobile innovations and visionaries," said Toby Weir-Jones, CEO of SGP Technologies. "Blackphone's arrival puts mobile privacy directly in the hands of professionals and consumers everywhere. In a world where devices and apps increasingly offer features only in return for users' personal or sensitive information, the pent-up demand for Blackphone shows there is strong, international demand for our brand's devices and services that stand apart by placing privacy before all else."
Blackphone is the world's first smartphone built from the ground up to maximize user privacy. Blackphone's security-enhanced operating system, PrivatOS, built on Android™ KitKat, provides users protection and control over security issues without the usual compromises. The unique advantages include:
- Private communications: Blackphone features private encrypted voice and video calls and text messaging with attachments viaSilent Circle's, Silent Phone and Silent Text apps created by Phil Zimmermann and Jon Callas, giving users the freedom to communicate securely anywhere they find cellular or Wi-Fi connections.
- Wi-Fi security: The included Kismet Smarter Wi-Fi Manager prevents Wi-Fi hotspots from capturing Blackphone users' wireless connection history and other information that could be used to track users' locations or patterns of activity and information about sensitive office or home networks.
- Security Center: Gives owners complete control over application permissions, allowing immediate changes without rebooting or reinstalling.
- Remote wipe and protect: A powerful remote wipe tool gives Blackphone owners further peace of mind in having the ability to control their phone's data from anywhere in the world.
- Anonymous Web browsing and VPN: Disconnect Search is the default search provider for Blackphone, offering private browsing protection from invasive Web monitoring by hiding users' IP address, browser cookies and personal information. Blackphone also features Disconnect's Secure Wireless app, which is a smart VPN designed to prevent eavesdropping over Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
- Private cloud storage: Blackphone owners can access files in SpiderOak's private encrypted cloud service right from their mobile device, knowing only they have the means to decrypt and access their private files.
Blackphone's initial inventory sold out quickly in the months following Mobile World Congress and SGP Technologies will re-open the Blackphone Web store at http://ift.tt/1fhzA0x on July 14 to begin accepting new orders. Customers in certain countries will be able to order Blackphone handsets through the device's carrier partners, such as KPN N.V..
For more information on Blackphone's availability, feature-set and technical specifications, please visit http://ift.tt/1anmSMT or follow @Blackphone_ch on Twitter.
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