Prez's Pimped-Out BlackBerry Nearly Ready

The NSA begins final tests on encryption software this month

By Clay Dillow, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 23, 2009 10:26 AM CDT

(Newser) – President Obama’s super-secure, high-powered new BlackBerry could soon get the thumbs-up from the National Security Agency, which is about to begin final tests on its encryption software. The president could be texting, emailing, calling and Facebooking other high-security personnel—like Michelle O.—within months, the Washington Times reports, replacing a jury-rigged setup with the top-secret version of BlackBerry’s 8830.

Since his inauguration, Obama has used a regular BlackBerry plugged into another NSA-provided handheld called a Sectera Edge, making it quite cumbersome. Software called SecureVoice, developed by Genesis Key, can turn any BlackBerry 8830 or Curve into a device meeting Top Secret clearance levels without fear of information being intercepted by foreign governments or hackers.

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President Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry as he walks toward the Oval Office, Jan. 29, 2009. (AP Photo)

In this July 7, 2008, file photo, then-Democratic candidate Barack Obama checks his BlackBerry. (AP Photo)

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With the recent foreign cybersecurity threats it is important that President has a BlackBerry that is completely secure at the top-secret level.
- Gary S. Elliott, chief information assurance officer at Genesis Key

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Prez's Pimped-Out BlackBerry Nearly Ready