I keep thinking that the only way we're going to get strong encryption on cellphones is to make it something that individuals can do
At 10:59 AM 4/12/03 -0400, John Kelsey wrote: themselves. The
cellphone providers have little incentive to do this well.
Actually, the way the cellphone biz has evolved, there are motivations. Get <big provider> to sell <big handset OEM> phones which, if you call another of the same, automatically goes secure. If <big provider> requests it of an OEM, it will happen. <Big provider>'s motivation would be differentiating their product with something more than blue suade [1] faceplates. <Big providers> already provide free "walkie-talkie" comms between endpoints inside their net as a differentiating feature. The reason it won't happen is that <big providers> are licensed by the State. [1] Yes, you will see textiles injection-molded into products soon. PS: See also "bump in the wire" devices.