Silent Circle is now accepting preorders for its privacy-centric smartphone, the Blackphone 2, which was was introduced earlier this year during the Mobile World Congress. It features a 5.5-inch high definition display, a 1.7GHz octa-core processor, 3GB of RAM, a 13-megapixel front-facing camera, LTE support and a microSD card slot. The phone is scheduled to start shipping next month. Unlike the first Blackphone, which was designed for consumers, this version targets enterprise users.
Silent Circle, Google united to target IT departments
Silent Circle’s partnership with Android for Work is part of a larger plan to get Google devices into more offices. The tech giant aims to make its products more appealing to businesses’ information technology departments, particularly when they have strict requirements regarding security and data sharing.
The original Blackphone debuted over a year ago. The company received negative feedback from rival BlackBerry, which claimed Silent Circle’s phone isn’t good enough for enterprise customers.
Blackphone 2 focuses on security
The one primary problem with the Blackphone 2 is the lack of support for Google Apps, but Silent Circle claims it is doing something about it with plans to create its own secure app store. The company is also set to launch its first tablet dubbed the Blackphone+. Both devices will feature SilentOS, which is a form of Android with more security-oriented features and privacy-friendly apps. The smartphone’s notable pro-privacy apps include a suite of extra-secure messaging apps.
Many leading businesses, including companies in the pharmaceutical, energy, and high tech sectors and government agencies, already use Silent Circle products. The price for the new Blackphone 2 is still unknown, but if previous pricing is any indication, the new phone will retail for $630.
