A company based in the UK has revealed a text messaging service that automatically deletes messages after they have been read by the recipient. The idea has been developed by Staellium UK and is said to increase security especially for executives who may be worried about the security of sensitive text messages.
The system devised is called the StealthText and allows users to be confident that 40 seconds after sending the message it will delete itself.
Carole Barnum, CEO and co-founder of Staellium UK said, "The ability to send a self-destruct message has massive benefits for people from all walks of life, from everyday mobile users to celebrities and business people."
Mishandled or leaked messages have been the ruin or embarrassment of many high profile companies in the past. So this new technology will be a godsend for those who may potentially find themselves in that position.
Research showed that more business leaders would more likely use their mobile phones instead of their computers to deal with a crisis or to reach someone quickly.
Barnum went on to say, "More and more business people, when they reach for their mobile phone, are sending text to contact people they need to reach immediately. If they can do that and self-destruct their text at the same time, it is better for them."
The idea came from technology used in the military. StealthText works by using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), so mobile phones must be WAP enabled to use it. The sender will have to download the StealthText applet. A text will be received by the recipients of the sender’s name and a link to the message.
Once a text message has been opened, recipients have 40 seconds to read them before they are deleted. Once the recipient has signed up to the service, they can reply to the message and also create a private communicate channel.
Barnum said that the intention of the service was for businesses only but the odd celebrity or high profile person may also want to subscribe to it.
She added, "We have had an overwhelming response in the UK. We think people will understand that the service is adding to their personal comfort as they have to control what's happening to their information. We think this will raise their level of control in a world that is getting more dangerous [for personal information] every day."
To meet legal requirement in the UK, a log must be kept of text messages by the company. So Staellium UK will have to keep a log of sent messages for two weeks.
The service is available in the UK only with UK registered SIM cards. The technology will be available in Asia, Europe and USA early next year.
The service will cost £5 for ten secure messages and will only be available to those over 18 years old. "We have raised the legal age to 18 years old to use the service because we believe this is not a toy and not appropriate for children," Barnum said. "It is a business tool."
Now there may be mobile phone messages that self destruct
Mon, 19 Dec 2005
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