Silent Circle Launches Android App Offering Full Call And Text Encryption

Data security is important to every mobile user, but some need a bit of extra encryption on top of normal security measures. For those users, Silent Circle has launched the Silent Phone app, which allows Android users to call and message each other with full encryption over talk and text. The app can be nabbed from the Google Play store, and requires a corresponding Silent Circle account.

The app utilizes TLS and ZRTP to encrypt packets, and requires both users to swap device keys when calling each other. The keys are not stored on a server, adding to the level of security, providing complete end-to-end encryption. Secure calls can be placed to both other Silent Circle users and non-members, depending on the subscription package used.

For those only interested in calling other Silent Circle members (the "Inside the Circle" plan), the monthly subscription runs $20, and includes a silent phone number. For those who need to place encrypted calls to non-Silent Circle members, the subscription plan is slightly more expensive at $29 per month. The encryption is only provided for calls placed in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, however.

The app is currently at version 1.1.2, and requires Android 2.3.3 or higher, meaning that it will run on most Android handsets. The app is a mere 2.5MB in size. New users have to subscribe at SilentCircle.com, and will score a 30-day free trial for another user to try out the service upon enrolling.

[via Android Community]