TechTheDay

Boeing introduced a smartphone specifically designed for those who want maximum protection for the data they store. Dubbed as the “Black Phone,” this device is programmed to automatically erase all data stored in it and make the phone inutile in case there are attempts to tamper with it or improperly access its contents. However, the phone is not going to be available for everyone. It will only be sold to “approved” purchasers.

Here are more details you would want to know about this gadget:

Runs on Android

The Black Phone is running the Android operating system. It’s not clear it it’s the latest version of Android or if there are heavy customizations involved. This is good considering that Android is already a very familiar OS for mobile devices. It does not employ a proprietary operating system to achieve the level of security it purports to offer. However, it will come with a set of extra features for security enhancement. Also, the whole operating system will be given the veil of security through Boeing’s patented “PureSecure” architecture.

On the matter of being able to install new apps, there is no word about it yet. If it ever allows new apps to be installed through the Google Play store, a security risk arises. Security experts are saying that security-centric devices like the Black Phone ought to have their own secure app store to address risks of third party applications breaking through the security system of the phone.

Dual-SIM Support

The device will allow users to use two SIM cards, making it easy to switch between numbers. One could be for a government network while the other could be for a commercial network. Of course, the device can be used with commercial network SIM cards occupying both SIM card slots. Boeing only emphasizes the government and commercial network setup because the device is primarily aimed at enabling better security for communications between governmental agencies and their security contractors.

The phone will operate on the GSM, WCDMA, and LTE frequency bands.

Device Dimensions

The Black Phone is a fairly normal looking phone. It’s unimaginative form factor does not impress at all but it provides the advantage of not being attractive, of not catching the eye of thieves or muggers. Thickness is at 13.25 mm while width and height are 67.6 mm and 131.9 mm respectively. It is certainly nowhere near the iPhone’s sleek look and feel but it’s sturdy enough.

Device Specs

When it comes to technical specifications, the Black Phone is again nothing impressive or amazing. It uses a 1.2GHz Cortex A9 processor. For comparison, this is the tech inside the iPhone 4 of yesteryear’s. However, the company claims that the device will provide “unparalleled modularity.” The company claims that “add-ons” may be used to enhance the phone’s functions.

It will be possible to add more sensors and other hardware to the device such as a satellite connectivity component or biometric sensors. It may even be possible to add an IR blaster to the device. The Black Phone already comes with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

Self-Destruct Feature

The main security feature of Boeing’s Black Phone lies on the ability to self destruct. This feature is highlighted by a description in the FCC filing. The Black Phone comes with a literally “killer” app. This app is responsible for the self-destruct feature of the device, built with Boeing’s technology and security expertise.

If you buy the Boeing Black Phone, you will be getting it as a sealed device. It’s more than just a “no user serviceable parts” device as all of the phone’s removable components are tightly sealed by epoxy. The heads of the screws used to fasten the phone’s body or cover are enveloped by tamper-proof covering. This covering can identify attempts to disassemble the phone, prompting the phone’s “killer app” to render the phone useless and completely erase all stored data.

According to the device’s documentation submitted to the FCC, “any attempt to break open the casing of the device would trigger functions that would delete the data and software contained within the device and make the device inoperable.” How this works was not explained when the phone was introduced.

Outlook

Is Boeing’s claim of the Black Phone being highly secure reliable? This is yet to be seen. It won’t be long before somebody posts a video on YouTube showing how to successfully defeat the phone’s security functions. This could be the reason why Boeing decided to make the device limited to certain users only.

There is another “blackphone” introduced recently. It was announced at the Mobile World Congress 2014. The device is also touted to be highly secure although there are many who doubt the security reliability of the device intended for the mass market.

Are you interested to have your own Black Phone from Boeing? Do you believe that it is secure enough? We can’t really come up with a proper conclusion without testing the actual device itself. Nevertheless, we’re really hoping that a truly secure smartphone can be possibly created.