GranitePhone, Kymera Join Race for the Most Secure Smartphone

BARCELONA—One major theme at this year's Mobile World Congress is security. In the aftermath of the Snowden leaks and countless hacks on major corporations, the world at large is more concerned with privacy and personal security than ever before.

The original BlackPhone walked away with our Best of MWC award last year, jumping ahead of the curve with an all-in-one, consumer-facing security solution.

This year, Blackphone was joined by companies like GranitePhone and Kymera, which sat down with PCMag to discuss the evolution of mobile security at MWC.

Though both companies hold differing philosophies and strategies, they both seem to agree that Silent Circle's BlackPhone is not enough, especially for individuals and organizations with seriously sensitive information. We're talking about national governments and global corporations that need absolute security for their mobile communications. GranitePhone and Kymera cater to these types of clients, and while they respect Silent Circle's mission, both shared some incredulity with regard to the consumer target for the BlackPhone 2. Basically, they think the BlackPhone 2 will appeal to "paranoid" consumers who don't necessarily have a serious need for that level of security.

GranitePhone is a Brazilian company that is focused on bringing an all-in-one hardware and software solution for mobile security. It is currently working with an unnamed manufacturer to bring the GranitePhone GT1 to market for enterprise deployment. GranitePhone focuses on paring down functionality to core communication tasks, and then ensuring privacy from outside threats on a software and hardware level.

It expects to make the official unveil in March, when reps say the GT1 will launch in four countries for around $750. On top of the forthcoming GT1, GranitePhone also offers cross-platform software for secure communications, so even if you don't buy the GT1, you can still enjoy some level of protection.

Kymera, an Isreali company, takes a different approach. Its solution is entirely software-based, with a ROM based on AOSP that it can load on off-the-shelf phones like the Samsung Galaxy S5. While GranitePhone is about simplicity, Kymera is about comprehensive control fused with an Android experience that should be familiar to your average consumer. To that end, Kymera allows users to install normal Android apps, but using administration tools, Kymera offers granular control over individual app permissions. On top of that, Kyemera's software features a dashboard that shows users how secure they are at the moment and real-time stats so they can improve security.

Don't expect to see either solution at any old carrier retail store—these are strictly focused at CEOs, presidents, and executives who need the highest level of privacy.