'Secure' Phone Could Cost $15,000

A new manufacturer plans to sell ultra-secure smartphones for as much as $15,000. They won't be the most expensive ever made, but will be the costliest outside of gimmick "luxury" handsets.

Sirin Labs, a company based in the United Kingdom and Israel, has raised $72 million in investment funding. It plans to launch its first handset in a dedicated retail store next year. (Source: reuters.com)

The company has released relatively little detail about the handset, but has been working on it for almost three years. It says the big selling point is that it will offer military level security while having the functions needed by consumers, particularly senior business executives.

Military Handsets Can't Run Common Apps

Existing military handsets combine rugged and durable hardware with the highest level of encryption, usually with custom-made operating systems to make them harder to breach. That means they usually can't run common office and communications applications.

The Sirin phone will be based on the Android system, with customizations to add the security. That means it can run mainstream apps.

According to the company, the phone will initially retail for less than $20,000, with the most likely price range of different models being $10,000 to $15,000. The company's president said this price could drop over time if the technology catches on, something he likened to the market for Tesla's electric cars. (Source: techcrunch.com)

Can You Put a Price on Security?

The idea is that while the price will severely limit the number of potential buyers, it will maximize revenue from those people willing to pay for "guaranteed" security. The company hopes companies will conclude that a five figure sum is a price well worth paying given the potential costs if a rival company or hostile foreign government was able to access trade secrets.

The Sirin phone will by no means be the most expensive, with some handsets selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, or even in the millions. In those cases, luxury is the selling point, with the handset casings sporting precious metals and gems.

What's Your Opinion

Do you think there'll be a market for a $15,000 phone? Is it a price worth paying for senior business figures? Can even "military grade" security be enough to make it safe to use a phone for sensitive and confidential business activity?