Blackphone: Price, 4 Things To Know About New Super Secure Smartphone

In a post-Snowden world, mobile phones are becoming increasingly tools as much for surveillance as for communication. However, a joint initiative between American software company Silent Circle and Spanish tech developer GeeksPhone is looking to change that. The companies have produced the Blackphone, touted as the first ever entirely encrypted smartphone. The phone will become available for pre-order on Monday. So if you're thinking of investing, here's what you need to know.

1. Software: Blackphone's key selling point is its software: the phone will come equipped with its own operating system PrivatOS, which will "include the full Silent Circle suite of applications: Silent Phone, Silent Text, and Silent Contacts, ready to go on Day 1. Existing Silent Circle customers can migrate their accounts at no additional cost." This system will allow you to encrypt voice, video, texting and file communications to any phone in the world.

2. It Will Operate Android. While Blackphone is touting itself as having its own operating system, it will be running trhough Google's Android system. Yet as they explain, "Android is an open source operating system, and PrivatOS makes use of the same code base that anyone can download and review anywhere in the world. It is important not to confuse the inherent features of Android with the specific actions taken by individual applications.."

3. Worldwide Sale. Worried the phone won't come to you? Fear not. "Blackphone will be available worldwide via the Blackphone web store and through some carefully-selected distribution partners. Shipping will be possible to just about any serviceable address anywhere in the world."

4. Price. Blackphone's price has been the point of much contention. The website lists that "Blackphone will be less expensive than an unlocked iPhone 5S." iPhones currently sell for around $649. The Blackphone will certainly be priced significantly lower, most proably aroudn $500 unlocked. You can then hook it up to any carrier without compromising your privacy.