Verizon and Cellcrypt to Deliver Encrypted Mobile Voice Services to U.S. Government

NEW YORK and VIENNA, Va., April 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Verizon and Cellcrypt, a provider of government-grade encrypted voice-calling software, will collaborate to deliver secure mobile calling capabilities to the U.S. government.

Under terms of a recently signed strategic agreement, the two companies will jointly market Cellcrypt's mobile voice-encryption solution to military, intelligence and civilian agencies.  The service will help government information technology departments manage the expanding use of mobile devices, address the potential risks associated with the interception of sensitive voice communications, and provide a powerful tool to combat cyberattacks on critical national infrastructure.

Currently undergoing trial testing with several government agencies, the yet-to-be named co-branded service will be available for sale this fall.

"The threats posed by cyberattacks are real and increasingly focused on U.S. national security interests," said Janet Schijns, vice president of vertical solutions, Verizon Enterprise Solutions.  "By leveraging our combined strengths, Verizon and Cellcrypt will provide government agencies with an easy-to-deploy and interoperable mobile voice-encryption solution designed to maintain the security and integrity of sensitive communications."

When launched, the Verizon-Cellcrypt service will be supported on smartphones and tablets running on the widely used Android, BlackBerry and iOS mobile operating systems.  The downloadable software application, which supports federal information processing standard 140-2, will work across cellular, Wi-Fi and satellite networks, including Verizon's industry-leading wireless networks.  FIPS 140-2, created by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is a U.S. government computer-security standard used to accredit cryptographic hardware and software.

"As a matter of national security, military and government personnel must be able to communicate sensitive information over their mobile phones, and it is imperative that these conversations be protected from interception," said Kathleen Peters, Cellcrypt's general manager of the Americas and vice president of business development.  "The combination of our world-class encryption solution and Verizon's networks will enable both companies to help strengthen the government's ability to effectively combat cybersecurity threats."

Verizon is the largest provider of communications services to the U.S. government, delivering a broad range of advanced IT and communications services. Visit the Verizon Public Sector website for more information.

About Cellcrypt

Cellcrypt is a leading provider of government-grade encrypted voice calling on commercial off-the-shelf smartphones including BlackBerry, iPhone, Android and Nokia. Founded in 2005, the company's flagship product – Cellcrypt Mobile – provides end-to-end encryption, device interoperability and unparalleled voice quality over GSM and CDMA (2G, 3G, 4G), Wi-Fi and satellite networks. Cellcrypt's products use NSA Suite B cryptography and are certified to the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) FIPS 140-2 standard. A version of Cellcrypt Mobile is in UK Government CESG CAPS Evaluation.  For more information about Cellcrypt, visit www.cellcrypt.com.

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE,Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with 93 million retail customers nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company with $111 billion in 2011 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 192,000.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

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SOURCE Verizon