Mobile working Toolkit

Encrypted mobile blocks eavesdroppers

Aloysius Choong CNETAsia

Published: 15 Jun 2004 10:35 BST

ST Electronics has taken the wraps off a new encrypted cellphone that thwarts high-tech eavesdroppers.

Designed for highly secured voice communications, the Mirage handset is targeted at senior executives and uses a 56-bit key for voice encryption and decryption. Two units of the Mirage are required to have a secure conversation.

Encrypted mobile phones make it harder for eavesdroppers to decode conversations using specialised equipment. Other companies including CryptoPhone, Siemens and Motorola have released similar products.

"With the increasing emphasis on security worldwide, it is inevitable that this be extended to wireless communications," said Seah Moon Ming, president of ST Electronics, in a statement.

The Mirage, with its list price of S$1,800 (£577)), is one of the cheapest encrypted phones in the market. It also comes with a 65,000-colour display and 40-chord polyphony.

Manufactured by Korean hardware security maker Beaucom exclusively for ST Electronics, the device will be commercially available by the end of the year.