This tape will self-destruct in 5 seconds, was the memorable promise from Mission: Impossible. Now a phone which does something similar is promised to be with us soon.
If you have an image in your head of your mobile blowing up in spectacular fashion then the truth might be just a little bit disappointing. However, if you want to just keep your data away from prying eyes then it could do the job.
The smartphone which has been designed to making keeping top secret communication easier comes from the rather unlikely source of plane maker Boeing.
It works by deleting all the information held on it and becoming impossible to use if someone starts tampering with it. A spokesperson for Boeing said that it could be used for companies looking to make sure that they have “trusted access to data”.
Codename: Black
Of course, a smartphone like this needs a proper code name and the good news is that the boffins at Boeing have called it simply Black.
The fact that a plane builder has come out with this secure phone possibly isn’t too much of a surprise when we consider that they already provide the technology which allows the US Government and President to carry out top secret communications.
Now for the bad news. The Boeing Black phone (which took 3 years to design and produce) isn’t going to be made for general release to the public. The price and release date are also yet to be confirmed.
Would you use a phone like this to keep your secret data away from prying eyes?