14 DAY TRIAL // You may not have heard about FreedomPop, but surely everyone knows something about Edward Snowden, the (in)famous former CIA employee.
FreedomPop is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) that launched two years ago. The company is backed by Mangrove Capital, DCM and Skype Founder Niklas Zennstom’s Atomico, and it offers its customers both mobile phone and mobile Internet services in the United States.
Now if you put together FreedomPop and Edward Snowden, the result might surprise you – the “Snowden Phone.” Although it’s been called “Snowden Phone” for marketing reasons, the new Privacy Phone launched by the carrier is based on the old Samsung Galaxy S II.
However, unlike the standard Samsung Galaxy S II, the Privacy Phone comes packed with some advanced privacy features meant to “protect Americans’ privacy.”
This is not the first and surely won’t be the last smartphone that promises advanced security features that will keep one’s data safe from prying eyes and ears.
The Blackphone, and more recently, Boeing’s Black smartphone claim to offer similar features, but they are more or less accurate in their descriptions. Given that none is yet available on the market, it’s hard to tell how efficient they are at protecting users’ data.
Even so, it’s almost impossible to know for sure whether or not these devices hardened with data protection features are any good in keeping your sensitive data safe.
However, FreedomPop claims its newly launched Privacy Phone uses 128-bit encryption, allowing for encrypted communication for both voice calls and text messages.
The Privacy Phone has it all covered, as the carrier confirmed all apps and Internet data is sent through a secure encrypted VPN (virtual private network). This way, users will be protected from viruses and other malware, as well as phishing websites.
The phone can also protect privacy by temporarily making all contacts and all related call history and SMSs confidential. FreedomPop also promises Privacy Phone users will have their data protected from unauthorized use even if their device is stolen or lost.
Not to mention that it helps users locate the device whenever they need, or it can block unwanted calls and text messages.
And if that’s not enough, FreedomPop states that each customer purchasing a Privacy Phone can ask for a number change at any time and as many times as they wish.
Speaking of which, FreedomPop confirms the PrivacyPhone is available for purchase for only $189 (€138) and comes with unlimited voice and text, plus 500 MBs of data for three months, then $10 (€7.3) a month after that.
Last but not least, in order to further ensure the anonymity of Privacy Phone’s buyers, FreedomPop announced it accepts payments via Bitcoin. Not sure if this option is still available given the largest Bitcoin exchange recently filed for bankruptcy.