Cell phone privacy of SMS Messages with XMS Banza

With rapid advancements in technology the convergence of voice ,data and entertainment media has gradually seen the Cell phone emerge as the device of choice for many people in various markets.

 With this growth, text messaging of Short messaging service commonly known as SMS has slowly emerged as a dominant service with millions of text messages being sent every single day across the globe.

 It is the basic features of this service primarily being the ease of transmission, durability of the message and cost that have led to the phenomenon growth and heralded new services such as “twitter”. It is the very reasons that have made text messaging great  are at the root of the problem.

 In the current day and age SMS are being used to relay content,

jokes, alerts news updates as well as private and confidential messages of which the private messages are of concern in this article. This application is most suitable among friends and family for the exchange of intimate and private information.

 Text messages are prone to unwarranted and un authorized access leading to privacy violations to texts and other data. One of the ways to combat this violations is by the use of Private XMS application or “Banza “ as it is known in Kenya.

 XMS “Banza” is a cell phone application that once installed and configured in a java enabled phone automatically routes private sms to a secret folder. The entire application is password controlled, and the security measures commence at installation.

 While the application is compatible with a variety of Java enabled phones the subscription choices are dependant on the user, with license options ranging from monthly to annual.

 During installation the application generates a private key which is a combination of the cell phone model number as well as the MSISDN of the simcard.  Once generated the private key may be exchanged with friends and contacts added from within the existing phone contacts or directly as new entries within XMS “Banza”.

 Within the application one may operate the folder exactly as one does within their normal inbox fro text messages and can even sent SMS to international numbers.

 Exchanging the private key ensures that the origin of the sender and receiver is verified and routed as may be required. Although the application may be uninstalled at choice the application does not start if the Msisdn has been changed and acts as a secondary measure to the application password.

 Users may increase their circle of users by exchanging their private keys with other people who have XMS “Banza” installed for privacy purposes while still able to send and receive normal and ordinary text messages form Non Banza users.

 Developed by Network security solutions “NSS” and deployed in partnership with Web Portal services www.wps-global.net  Private XMS is now Available in Africa with Kenya as the first location to be deployed on a commercial basis.

 While Banza is suitable for the individual text messages through its simplicity and user control its usage is expected to increase as more and more people seek to ensure their privacy.