An app store for the privacy-focused Blackphone smartphone will be launched in early 2015, as part of an update to the PrivatOS operating system.

When it launches in January, the Blackphone app store will be the first to include titles that have been chosen for their privacy credentials.

The PrivatOS update includes a tool called Spaces, which enables users to create self-contained environments for apps, data and accounts on a single device. A Silent Space contains a suite of apps for encrypted communications, along with a bundle of preloaded privacy apps and the app store.

Toby Weir-Jones, Blackphone CEO, described the app store, together with Spaces, as “a real ‘game changer’ for the brand, further highlighting our commitment to placing privacy back into the hands of the user”.

Blackphone is the first smartphone developed to maximise user privacy. PrivatOS is based on Android 4.4 (KitKat) and supports encrypted voice and video calls, as well as text messaging.

Other features include secure WiFi support, a security centre which gives centralised control of application permissions, remote wipe and protect, anonymous web browsing and VPN, and private cloud storage.Shipments started in June with the purchase price of $629 including subscriptions to a number of security-related services. It was initially available in “certain countries” via operator partners, such as KPN in the Netherlands.