Boeing is launching a self-destructing smartphone to help spies, diplomats and others keep secrets secure.

Don't even think about trying to open or tamper with the Boeing Black phone, the company warns.

"There are no serviceable parts on Boeing's Black phone and any attempted servicing or replacing of parts would destroy the product," Boeing says in documents filed with the US Federal Communications Commission.

"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 US-based aerospace group says its Boeing Black phone, which uses encryption both in its stored data and transmission will use the Google Android system with "enhanced software security."

"Boeing's Black phone will be sold primarily to government agencies and companies engaged in contractual activities with those agencies that are related to defense and homeland security," Boeing says

"The device will be marketed and sold in a manner such that low level technical and operational information about the product will not be provided to the general public. Detailed technical information distributed at trade shows will be limited or protected by non-disclosure agreements."

Boeing has not announced when the phone would be available, but a spokeswoman said it would be "soon."

The device should not be confused with the new encrypted Blackphone, developed by the US secure communications firm Silent Circle with Spanish manufacturer Geeksphone. The Blackphone, which is on sale to the general public, offers encrypted communications and protection against snooping.

Boeing's website says its device was developed because there was nothing on the market to meet the needs of the US defense and security communities.

"Despite the continuous innovation in commercial mobile technology, current devices are not designed from inception with the security and flexibility needed to match their evolving mission and enterprise environment," the website says.

The device "is built upon layers of trust from embedded hardware, operating system policy controls, and compatibility with leading mobile device management systems."

The US military has long used BlackBerry phones, and more recently commercially available Android and Apple smartphones, for US armed phones.

Top EU official warns of misleading app developers
Brussels (AFP) Feb 27, 2014 - Just two weeks after suggesting the European Union is on the cusp of a digitally led economic bonanza, officials warned Thursday that web developers may be misleading consumers.

EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding called a two-day meeting with European developers of mobile apps and is warning them that to advertise products as 'free' only to charge consumers later could undermine confidence in the industry.

In particular, Reding said consumers are being short-changed by 'in-app' purchases -- in which users are able to download games but are later required to pay to continue playing.

"Misleading consumers is clearly the wrong business model and also goes against the spirit of EU rules on consumer protection," Reding said, adding that she expected "very concrete answers" from the app industry.

While it has not made its research into the problem public, the Commission said it has received complaints from "all over Europe" and it is particularly concerned about children being charged to upgrade games.

The meeting, which ends on Friday, will bring together lawyers and representatives from app start-ups, government consumer watchdogs from EU member states and industry leaders Google and Apple.

However, while industry observers agree children should be protected, there is concern that European regulators have misunderstood the "freemium" business model, which involves free downloads then small charges for upgrades.

"Nothing is for free and concern with this business model is naive," said Ann Mettler, executive director of The Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based technology think-tank.

"Start-ups need to generate money and there is nothing wrong with offering users free basic services then giving them the option to upgrade," Mettler says.

However, the Commission said the freemium model targets children through default purchase settings, which can result in mobile app users being debited without explicit consent.

"It might not always be clear where the freemium model ends and where the payment begins," said James Waterworth, from the Computer and Communications Industry Association.

"It is excellent that the Commission is getting industry players together to agree on standards, rather than approaching it with heavy handed court-cases which would take years to resolve," Waterworth said.

Other observers point out the regulatory concerns are in contrast with the upbeat assessment of tech start-ups released earlier this month by EU Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, Neelie Kroes, suggesting the EU's digital economy could employ nearly five million people by 2018.

An EU official suggested that children running up bills on their parents' tablet computers is "a real issue" but warned against the risk of over-reacting.