SGP Technologies said it had begun shipments of Blackphone, which it described as the “world’s first privacy-optimised smartphone”.

The device costs $629 and is powered by a “security-enhanced” operating system, PrivatOS, which has been built on top of Android 4.4 (Kit Kat). It provides encrypted voice and video calls and text messaging with attachment via apps developed by Silent Circle, one of the companies behind SGP Technologies.

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.

SGP said that initial Blackphone inventory “sold out quickly” in the months following Mobile World Congress, and that its web store will re-open on 14 July to accept new orders.

It will also be available in “certain countries” via operator partners, such as KPN in the Netherlands.

The purchase price includes subscriptions to a number of security-related services.