Cellcrypt adds encrypted messaging to its secure smartphone voice calling solution

LONDON, UK: Cellcrypt, the leading provider of encrypted cell phone voice calling, has announced a new secure messaging feature for users of Cellcrypt Mobile for BlackBerry. It brings government-certified end-to-end encryption for messaging, countering interception vulnerabilities of standard SMS (Short Message System) and IM (Instant Messaging) and uses ‘immediate delivery and delete’ instead of a ‘store and forward’ design which makes exchange of real-time, short-lived messages less vulnerable to compromise.

Cellcrypt’s secure messaging brings government-certified cryptographic security to real-time messages, running on off-the-shelf smartphones as part of an easy-to-use downloadable Cellcrypt Mobile application.

Real-time, short-lived information exchange, like that used in voice calls, typically means that the callers do not require or want the conversation to be stored or forwarded at a later date, and prefer the information to perish immediately after it is received. So Cellcrypt messaging uses an ‘immediate delivery and delete’ metaphor, which further enhances the security.

In use since November 2010, Cellcrypt customers have reported effective and widespread use of the encrypted messaging feature: as a last resort at times when cellular network quality is so poor that sustaining an encrypted voice call is not possible; to continue simultaneous message exchange with multiple parties; to exchange information without disturbing meetings; to remain unidentified in covert operations; and to save valuable time when exchanging structured data such as names, addresses, logistical information and reference numbers.

Cellcrypt’s secure messaging feature complements a secure voice call rather than providing stand-alone SMS/IM-like capabilities – such as delayed delivery, buddy lists, group and conferencing functionality, threaded messages, presence, status and profiles – that could compromise the user.

The feature sends text data, rather than voice data, down a highly encrypted stream, and adds user menus to write and read messages. Delivery occurs only when both parties are directly connected so the message is not stored, unless deliberately saved by the recipient to read later. In addition, the sender can specifically set a message-retry interval, which limits the time a message stays in the ‘out-box’, if the recipient is unavailable to receive it immediately.

Cellcrypt Mobile provides encrypted voice calling for off-the-shelf cell phones using government-certified security in an easy-to-use downloadable application that makes highly secure calling as easy as a normal phone call. It is a software-only solution that uses the IP data channel and works over cellular (2G (GPRS/ EDGE), 3G (HSPA, CDMA/EV-DO), and 4G), Wi-Fi® and satellite networks. The Cellcrypt product is validated to CESG Claims Test Mark in the UK, and to FIPS 140-2 standard, approved by the US National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST).

“With the new encrypted messaging feature we add significant value to our customers’ secure voice calling capability.” said Richard Greco, Cellcrypt CEO and chairman. “Cellcrypt has led the market in providing easy to use and rapidly deployable solutions for real-time, short-lived mission-critical information exchange, and this capability broadens our reach to more users in more scenarios”.

Cellcrypt’s encrypted messaging feature is an additional feature of the core Cellcrypt Mobile product. It is available now in Cellcrypt Mobile for BlackBerry version 6 and later.