Turing Phone

Turing Phone is the now famous smartphone by Turing Robotic Industries (TRI) which provides end-to-end encryption for ultra-secure communications and a more sustainable production process than a regular smartphone. The device uses decentralized authentication to encrypt any communications and comes with its master public key and unique private key pre-installed with the phone. When a device is communicating with another Turing Phone, the two devices can directly verify their identity, side-stepping the need to route it via a Key Distribution Center. The TRI declares that “A protected communications network that is entirely insulated from cyber-threats and privacy intrusions. Within this circle of trust, users can exchange sensitive data such as social security numbers or bank wiring instructions and know that the information will reach only the device intended,” the company says.

At first the device was to run Android 5.0 which was abandoned in favour of the Sailfish OS licensed from Jolla, with the Turing UI.

Besides being robust in terms of security, the device body is made of a material called “Liquidmorphium” which is described by the manufacturer as an “unbendable” metal that’s stronger than titanium or steel and more resistant to shock and screen breakages.

The phone is released in three memory capacity versions, the cheapest one of which costs 610 USD. A Cnet.com article called the pricing high, but noted that the ”phone remains aimed at the well-heeled and security conscious, and not the average consumer”. Turing Robotic Industries has announced having shipped the first batch of Turing Phones on July 12th, 2016, with the second and third batches to follow on July 22nd and July 29th respectively.