WASHINGTON — The word “smartphone” is about to take on a whole new meaning.
On Wednesday, aircraft manufacturer Boeing announced it has spent the last 36 months creating a smartphone capable of wiping its data if anyone attempts to break into it.
The phone, called Black, is constructed with tamper-proof screws and epoxy, or extremely strong glue, around the casing. These would make a break-in obvious, triggering the data wipe and making the phone inoperable, according to Reuters.
Unlike a normal cell phone, Black can access multiple cell networks and has special technology to ensure data encryption. It will look somewhat like a slightly larger black iPhone and will run a special version of Google’s Android operating system.
Black is not currently available to commercial customers, as it is intended for government agencies and contractors for whom security is key. The details of the phone, which Boeing filed with the Federal Communications Commission, are also under heavy security — even the price and release date are unknown.
Boeing’s phone reflects a trend among companies creating privacy-centered smartphones. Earlier this week, two other software companies announced the similarly named Blackphone, which also runs Android and can wipe its data, but which is available for sale.
