Silent Circle Challenges Mobile And VoIP Operators With Encrypted Landline Calls

Silent Circle is to let privacy-conscious businesses and consumers make encrypted calls to landlines in 79 countries and mobiles in 41 nations with ‘Out-Circle Calling’, a new service which the Swiss-based firm claims poses a threat to both VoIP providers and mobile operators.

Currently, Silent Circle members can make encrypted phone calls to other members, but not to those using a traditional telephone.

Out of Circle Calling promises to extend the encryption afforded by Silent Phone to landlines, protecting against commercial, state-sponsored or criminal surveillance, meaning all customers need to benefit is a Wi-Fi or cellular network.

VoIP threat

Silent Circle CEO Mike Janke says it nearest VoIP competitors offer only a fraction of the countries that his firm cover, and services such as Skype are not encrypted, resulting in the application being banned by many organisations.

However Janke also believes that mobile operators will be threatened by its International plans, that offer users packages of 100, 250, 500 or 1,000 minutes for calls abroad.

“If there was one industry that is ripe for disruption – I would choose the telecommunications industry,” he says, lamenting the fact that bar a few operators such as Americo Movil, KPN and EE, many remain committed to charging excessive amounts for roaming in order to generate revenue.

Roaming challenge

“We are now becoming a ‘Secure Virtual Operator’ in the truest sense. We can challenge phone makers and telecoms from our office and network in Switzerland.

“The facts are that Out-Circle Calling provides a low-cost, private alternative to traditional mobile calling plans that everyone from your neighbour to traveling multinational executives can use.

“The expanded geographic reach – combined with the superb call quality and unsurpassed built-in privacy features of Silent Phone – further extend Silent Circle’s lead in helping individuals and enterprises safely communicate across town or around the world.”

Earlier this year, Silent Circle, which also offers secure Silent Phone and Silent Text applications to subscribers, formed a joint venture with Spanish manufacturer Geeksphone to create a secure smartphone known as the Blackphone.

The Blackphone comes pre-loaded with Silent Circle applications and uses PrivatOS, a custom operating system based on Android 4.4 KitKat which aims to improve privacy.

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