Boeing Black Smartphone: Secret, Secure, Self-Destructing(!)

The Black uses the Android operating system from Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), and although the filing doesn’t say so, the operating system has probably been modified. The filing seeks confidential treatment for the details of the phone’s operation “because it identifies operational and design elements of the product that facilitate the secure operation of the device and release of such information could assist third parties in defeating these security measures.”

Boeing also notes:

There are no serviceable parts on Boeing’s Black phone and any attempted servicing or replacing of parts would destroy the product. The Boeing Black phone is manufactured as a sealed device both with epoxy around the casing and with screws, the heads of which are covered with tamper proof covering to identify attempted disassembly. Any attempt to break open the casing of the device would trigger functions that would delete the data and software contained within the device and make the device inoperable.

The Black is a dual-sim device that supports GSM, WCDMA, and LTE protocols using micro SIM cards. The phone will also have an HDMI port, USB, WiFi, and Bluetooth capability.

This is not good news for BlackBerry Ltd. (NASDAQ: BBRY) which recently said it had signed a contract with the U.S. Defense Department for 80,000 new BlackBerry phones. Other vendors, including Samsung, are also taking stab at the market for secure phones, making BlackBerry’s position even more tenuous.

Boeing shares are up about 0.7% just after the noon hour at $127.74 in a 52-week range of $75.53 to $144.57.

BlackBerry’s shares are down more than 1% at $10.48 in a 52-week range of $5.44 to $16.82.