This claims to be the world’s most advanced private tech device outside of the agency world of spies. The idea is to combine high-end military-grade security software with a consumer focused handset, based on Android. What else would you expect from a US-Israeli company?

Unveiled in London on 31st May, the Solarin phone combines a luxurious design with high performance components, advanced security and support for technologies that have not reached the mass market yet, such as WiGig. The handset is designed for those who travel a lot, require sophisticated security and want an exclusive look. It is available in stores located in Mayfair and Knightsbridge from 1 June and is aimed at international high-end business users.

Whether it’s talking to family or colleagues, highly confidential calls have to be made and highly confidential messages have to be sent and if they are hacked – reputations could be damaged. Safety could be compromised. Finances could be hit.

    

Luxurious smartphones from Vertu or Mobiado, as well as custom-built iPhone and Galaxy S handsets from jewelers, have existed for years and are becoming a common sight. While such devices boast an exclusive design and feel, they use mass market platforms and typically lack exclusive functionality. As a result, when it comes to features like security or connectivity, bespoke phones typically offer the same feature set as the standard devices. This is where Solarin steps in, featuring partnerships with security firms Koolspan and Zimperium to secure the phone and the data on it.

Thanks to a chip-to-chip 256-bit AES encryption – something that the military currently uses around the world – the phone is apparently the most secure consumer device on the planet. The rear of the handset features a button that switches the phone into shielded mode, this is called Security Switch. In secure mode the phone only connects to other Solarin handsets for calls and messages – everything else is shut off. But in this state there is absolutely no way anyone has access to your data.

To show off just how easy it is to hack a normal phone, guests were hacked while in the press conference for this phone’s launch. This definitely proves the reality of the inherent insecurity of phones.

At its price point this handset is targeted at a very specific market. But for those people that want top level security without carrying around military hardware this is a great alternative. While the details remain sketchy at this point, it seems that the Solarin supports technology akin to Blackberry’s Secusmart (which it acquired in 2014), and was used by multiple high-profile officials, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, for voice communications that were encrypted using a 128-bit key in real-time.

The nice touch here is that the phone isn’t just about security but pushes the boundaries of design, camera, display and build too – so it is actually quite stylish. The bezels can be coated with gold, titanium or another material. The handset’s metallic edge is titanium made from the same company that creates some of the best watch bezels in the world. The actual name of the material is not revealed, but it is strong, light and impervious to the elements.The backside of the phone looks like carbon fiber, but it is actually leather, which should feel much better. Overall, the visual aesthetics of the launch devices looks very good. Eventually, the company could offer new models, or even build to order options.

The fact that security only works for calls and messages, and essentially puts you in airplane mode, might be limiting for some. But for those that want to make a call in total secure comfort, it’s ideal.

IF you have the cash and are particularly worried about privacy, this is the phone for you. After all, just like Sirin Labs says about this phone “not all privacy is created equal”.

Source: pocketlint, Sirin Labs & Luxury Daily

Images courtesy of cnn.com, Sirin Labs & Luxury Daily