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Cellcrypt, which makes software for encrypting cell phone calls, is reportedly coming out with a new version of its solution for the BlackBerry (News - Alert).

Enterprises and government organizations that rely on mobile communications for mission critical operations are increasingly investigating solutions for securing calls over the air. Cellcrypt (News - Alert) claims its software client, which is downloaded onto mobile devices, encrypts voice across all networks, end-to-end, including calls from cell phones to land lines. The company also offers a gateway application for use with enterprise IP PBXs.

Versions of Cellcrypt Mobile are already available for Nokia (News - Alert) N-Series and E-Series phones as well as Windows Mobile devices. According to a report in PC World, the company is expected to release the BlackBerry version in June.

London-based Cellcrypt, which recently opened an office in Palo Alto, Calif., claims its software prevents hacking of the wired networks behind cellular base stations. This is achieved by encrypting the VoIP packets with 256-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) and 2048-bit Diffie-Hellman encryption.

The solution works on any 3G network including the EV-DO (Evolution-Data Optimized) data networks used by U.S. CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) operators such as Verizon Wireless and Sprint (News - Alert) Nextel.

The company is reportedly seeking certification under the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology's Federal Information Processing Standards 140-2 regulation, which would qualify it for contracts with U.S. government agencies.

Last year, at a Black Hat event, researchers David Hulton and Steve Muller showed that it was possible to break the encryption on a GSM call in about 30 minutes using relatively inexpensive off-the-shelf equipment and software tools. Once in, a hacker could listen to phone calls from distances of up to 20 miles away.

Other researchers have warned that U.S. cellular networks could soon be under attack as well. As a result, some enterprises and government agencies aren’t taking any chances and are seeking solutions for securing sensitive mobile communications. Obviously there are some organizations which are far more likely to be targets for hackers – and they are now exploring alternatives for encrypting mobile calls, such as Cellcrypt.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, based in Waterloo, Ontario, reported earlier this month it had shipped a record 7.8 million devices in the quarter ended Feb. 28 and surpassed an all-time total of 50 million devices.

It is unclear whether the new version of Cellcrypt Mobile for BlackBerry will also require the PBX (News - Alert) version of the software to be loaded onto the BlackBerry Enterprise Server, which serves as a security gateway.

Earlier this month Cellcrypt launched the Cellcrypt PBX IAB, an alternate version of its PBX solution geared for military, blue-light and crisis management organizations.

The company claims the PBX IAB enables orgnaizations to establish a totally private, secure fixed and mobile telephone network, connecting any number of mobile devices and fixed line phones around the world.

Cellcrypt, which was founded in 2005, spent three years developing its software. The product has only been on the market for six months and already it is getting strong attention from the enterprise market. A license for one user reportedly costs about $3,732 per year -- however the price varies based on volume and other factors.


Patrick Barnard is a contributing writer for TMCnet. To read more of Patrick’s articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Patrick Barnard