Obama’s phone? The Sectera Edge
The Sectera Edge is a smartphone made by a defense contractor called General Dynamics. The device, according to General Dynamics, was actually developed for the National Security Agency (NSA) and is considered a "secure mobile environment portable electronic device." The Sectera Edge uses SCIP, or Secure Communications Interoperability Protocol, along with HAIPE IS-- High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryptor Interoperability Specification to create connections with classified government networks. Its feature list even includes the specific option to "exchange secure e-mail with government personnel."
The Sectera Edge offers one-touch switching between classified and regular mode. One worry is how the encryption would affect messages sent to non-government employees. (They would have to be given appropriate decryption technology to be able to read them.) A security expert also questions whether enemies could use the device to ascertain the president's location, or even tap into his phone's microphone and transmit his conversations. The government, not surprisingly, is staying mum on the matter thus far -- and one might imagine it will continue to do so.
Whether or not it ends up being presidential, maybe an NSA-certified smartphone could be the secret to one-upping your iPhonetoting friends. The Sectera Edge does offer all the standard stuff -- calendar, tasks, desktop synchronization. Oh, and it even meets military standards for drop and shock protection. That could come in handy. The Sectera operates on a Microsoft Windows platform. Both AT&T and T-Mobile offer secure voice and data service for the device. The phone’s is priced at $3,350.