MWC 2015 – Silent Circle Launches ‘World’s First’ Enterprise Privacy Platform

Silent Circle has unveiled its enterprise privacy platform, a unique combination of devices, software and services, including the Blackphone 2 and the world’s first privacy focused tablet, Blackphone+.

Phil Zimmermann, Silent Circle co-founder, said: “Enterprise privacy is similar to individual privacy. The same technologies can protect both. My own work in developing privacy technology has always been motivated by my interest in individual privacy as a human right. The recent Sony experience shows that enterprises too have a responsibility to up their game to protect the privacy of their own people and their partners.”

Underserved enterprises

Bill Conner, president and CEO of Silent Circle, said: “We’ve unveiled the vision to drive the second stage of growth for Silent Circle. Enterprises have been underserved when it comes to privacy. Traditional approaches to security have failed them. We’re here to fix that. We have to understand that to achieve real privacy now requires security plus policy. That new equation is driving everything we do in building the world’s first enterprise privacy platform.”

Reflecting the ways we all work have now evolved – with a growing number of employees now using personal devices to connect to their enterprise networks – the company believes it has created a platform of devices, software and services that recognise traditional approaches to security are no longer enough.

Mike Janke, co-founder and chairman of the Silent Circle Board, said: “Traditional security solutions have failed global enterprise in a mobile world and make data and privacy breaches feel inevitable to most enterprises. What’s more, these breaches have evolved and have much broader impact. They now put every customer, employee and partner at risk. They are eroding the trust people have in enterprises. They have moved privacy firmly to the top of the boardroom agenda.”

The newly unveiled Silent Circle Enterprise Privacy Platform includes:

Devices

Blackphone
The first generation Blackphone was designed to be a secure starting point for your personal communications. Since it was launched 12 months ago at Mobile Congress 2014, Silent Circle says the device has seen huge global demand.

Blackphone 2
Arriving in the second half of 2015, Silent Circle announced the launch of Blackphone 2, which has been built to offer enterprises privacy without compromise. It is said to integrate seamlessly with existing MDM systems like Citrix and has a faster processor, more RAM, a longer lasting battery, and a larger display than the Blackphone.

Blackphone+
Arriving later in 2015, Blackphone+, marketed as the world’s first privacy focused tablet, aims to provide next generation technology and privacy for today’s mobile workforce.

Software

PrivatOS
PrivatOS is an Android-based operating system that was created by Silent Circle to address modern privacy concerns. There is no software, no hooks to carriers, and no leaky data, according to Silent Circle. It was designed to put privacy in the hands of the user, without any sacrifice to productivity.

PrivatOS 1.1 is the first major upgrade to the company’s OS. It introduces Spaces, an OS-level virtualisation and management solution that enable devices to be used for all aspects of mobile life without compromising choice, privacy or ease-of-use. Silent Circle is also introducing the capability that permits IT administrators to lock and wipe enterprise managed ‘Spaces’ when necessary, in addition to announcing MDM partnerships with Citrix, Soti and Good to pave the way for its increasing roll out within businesses worldwide.

Silent Suite
Silent Suite is the Silent Circle’s core set of applications that enable private, encrypted communication. It offers peer-to-peer key negotiation and management. The company believes Silent Suite sets the standard for enterprise privacy and is available on PrivatOS, iOS and Android.

Services

Silent Store
Installed on all Blackphone devices, the ‘world’s first privacy-focused app store’ features apps from the developer community vetted by Silent Circle.

Silent World
An encrypted calling plan that lets users communicate privately with those who don’t have Silent Phone. Silent Worlds allows users to call anyone within the Silent Circle coverage areas privately, with no roaming charges or extra fees.

Silent Manager
Silent Manager gives enterprises a simple web based solution for managing plans, users and devices.

Last week, Silent Circle announced its buy out of its SGP Technologies joint venture between Silent Circle and Geeksphone. The acquisition resulted in Silent Circle taking a 100 percent ownership stake in SGP Technologies and the Blackphone product set. The company also announced it has raised approximately $50m in a private, common equity round to support accelerated growth.

What do you remember about MWC 2014? Take our quiz!

To keep up-to-date with all the latest mobile news, sign up for our free mobile tech newsletter!

Want even more insight and analysis of mobile technology news? Check out our special Mobility Focus section!