Customer: KoolSpan

Project Type: Voice Application, Software Development

Technologies: VoIP, Symbian OS

Product Overview:

The KoolSpan TrustChip™ is a powerful, self-contained crypto processor.  Packed in a microSD form factor, it plugs into smartphones to provide seamless security to any application, even voice. Users just make calls as normal and KoolSpan does the rest, transparently and automatically authenticating and encrypting the connection for secure end-to-end communications.

Challenge:

KoolSpan, experts in hardware- and software-based cryptography, wanted to quickly tap experts in Symbian application development to enable platform compatibility. 

Objectives:

 - Tap the paths between the smartphone’s microphone and speaker to encrypt and decrypt the conversation

 - Develop an innovative way to ‘watermark’ the address book so that the smartphone registers secure phone numbers

 - Implement these new capabilities without changing the caller’s normal behaviour

 - Ensure security and robustness.

Method Deployed:

KoolSpan partnered with Penrillian because of its deep domain expertise and collaborative work style.

"We were looking for Symbian experts that could innovate as part of a highly interactive development process," commented Robert Cichielo, product manager, KoolSpan. 

"It was clear Penrillian had the experience. But there was also no fluff or arm-waving; the Penrillian team were clear and succinct in describing what they could and couldn't do."

At the early stages of the project, the focus was on invention, feasibility and implementation options.

"KoolSpan’s ideas stretched the capabilities of the phones to the limit; we needed a lot of creative experimentation to get them to work in practice," said Charles Weir, managing director of Penrillian.

The project progressed to success through active interaction between the two company's senior engineering teams. 

"Good communication and rapid prototyping made working with Penrillian effective.  They combine extensive experience and a reliable development process with the ability to innovate to deliver results," said Robert Cichielo.

Results: The KoolSpan TrustChip Voice solution is due for launch in Q1 2008.

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