Secure communications company Silent Circle and device maker Geeksphone have teamed up to create “the world’s first smartphone placing privacy and control directly in the hands of its users”.

Called Blackphone, it uses a security-oriented Android build called PrivatOS. It is described as a carrier- and vendor-independent smartphone which gives individuals and organisations the ability to make and receive secure phone calls, exchange secure texts, transfer and store files, and video chat “without compromising user privacy on the device”.

As yet, no details of the BlackPhone specification have been announced.

The device will be available for pre-order beginning 24 February 2014.