SGP Technologies Offer Secure Blackphone For $629

Approximately a month ago, I wrote an article covering the issue of privacy and the use of mobile devices.  We live in a world where people trust the governments who preside over them less and less. A world where whistleblowers like Edward Snowden bring new, albeit, controversial light on the subject of people’s privacy, companies such as SGP Technologies are going to thrive by creating possibly the most secure handset currently available , the Blackphone.  It has been created by SGP Technologies who are made up of Silent Circle and Geeksphone.

The Blackphone is a privacy-focused device that has now had more light shed upon it, at this year’s Mobile World Congress.

When the Blackphone was announced back in January, SGP said little about the device really, but it is now known that it will retail at $629, unlocked and has similar specifications to comparable Android devices.

The developers at SGP are going to equip the device with a 2GHz quad-core processor, 4.7-inch HD IPS display, 2GB of RAM, 16GB of storage, LTE connectivity, 8-megapixel rear and 1.3-megapixel front cameras.

The Blackphone will come loaded with a specifically tailored version of Android called PrivatOS, that is allegedly more secure and it’ll be coupled with two-year subscriptions to some privacy tools. These will include Silent Circle’s encrypted app suite (for calls, messages and contacts), a VPN, an anonymous search and browsing tool and even some secure cloud storage.

The handset also comes with a remote wipe function and it has a recovery tool as well. The Blackphone will work with any GSM carrier, though it’s partnered with KPN Mobile in Europe for launch and happily the phone’s creators will issue software updates directly.  Toby Weir-Jones, Blackphone GM, has said: “We’ve never made the claim we’re offering an NSA-proof device, but we are offering a tool that makes a huge difference to someone who’s using no privacy tools at all.” You are able to pre-order now and collect your very private and brand new handset around June this year!

Do you think the Blackphone is going to be the most secure handset we have seen thus far? Do you think we can ever be really private from prying eyes? If you have any sensible comments regarding this story, please leave your comments in the section below.

[Image via pando]

SOURCE: http://www.engadget.com/2014/02/24/blackphone-privacy-phone/?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000595