SGP Technologies has released updated tech specs for its Blackphone, a smartphone designed with user privacy in mind. The device was unveiled at Mobile World Congress in February as a secure smartphone for the mass market. It will feature an NVIDIA Tegra 4i mobile processor.
The Tegra 4i processor is amongst the most powerful mobile processors available, running 60 custom GPU cores and a quad-core CPU. It clocks in at a top speed of 2.3 GHz, with 2 GB of RAM. The device has a fifth core for battery saving.
The Blackphone runs PrivatOS, SGP's own custom operating system based on on the KitKat version of Android. Users are provided with 16 GB of internal memory and have the option of using additional microSD storage. It features an 8 MP camera on the rear and a 5 MP front-facing camera. It also has a 4.7 in HD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720.
Users can purchase the phone unlocked for use on any network or can buy it through "selected partner carriers." A number of privacy tools will be pre-installed, such as secure voice and video calling, secure text messaging and encrypted storage of contacts. Anonymous search, private browsing, secure VPN connectivity and secure cloud storage are also featured.
The first pre-sales run of the Blackphone is sold out, but more devices are expected to become available from June. The Blackphone is listed for US$629.
The video below provides an introduction to the Blackphone.
Source: Blackphone
Of course this won't matter much if everything transmitted from your phone is being recorded by your provider at the relay stations. Still it's nice to see someone is trying.
If this has two way or quantum encryption (not mentioned in article) it wouldn't matter if the provider records your information the records wouldn't show them anything.
Unless this smartphone has a 100% open hardware, 100% open firmware, and the CPU is master, while all network adapters are solely slaves. Only then are we talking about a cellphone that is made for your privacy.
This nice phone thus looks like just a regular one, only with a privacy sales gimmick, without real backing.