14 DAY TRIAL // There’s been a lot of hype created around super-secure mobile devices as of late. BlackBerry is building the Android-based Priv, a device with a focus on privacy, and Silent Circle has just released the Blackphone 2.
You might remember that back at MWC 2015, another contender to the throne of super safe phones appeared on the grounds of the event. It was hailing from Brazil and was called Sikur.
The company came to Barcelona to present one of their first products, called the GranitePhone, which runs on a forked version of Android called Granite OS that offers users encrypted messaging services and encrypted phone calls.
Even if the phone was first presented in March, Sikur has announced that the first units of the GranitePhone are not available for purchase and will start shipping to customers starting this December.
The phone arrives with a 5-inch display (of unknown resolution, but previous information indicated the panel would be of a FHD variety) and a Snapdragon 615 processor under the hood, which is characteristic of mid-class phones. The device features 2GB of RAM, 16GB of internal storage, and a 16MP/8MP camera combo.
While the handset is not so spectacular spec-wise, its strengths lie in the security department, as it boasts multiple layers of security, plus a storage model that has data stored in the cloud in encrypted form. What’s more, users can also access their data via the PC or a second mobile device, which opens the door for more flexibility.
More secure phones are popping up
The GranitePhone is selling for $849 / €757 until November 15, after which you will need to take a hefty $999 / €891 out of your pockets to purchase it. As you can see, the device is quite expensive and can easily rival flagships like the Samsung Galaxy Note5 and iPhone 6s.
For the time being, customers in Europe, US, Latin America, Middle East, Africa and Asia are bound to get the phone first. Oddly enough, Sikur is neglecting customers in its own country but promises to make the GranitePhone available in early 2016.
Interestingly, Sikur has partnered up with French phone and tablet manufacturer Archos for the production and development of this device.
Would you pay extra to get a uber-secure smartphone?
