By Steve Ranger, 12 December 2005 14:05
NEWS
A service offering Mission Impossible-style text messages that "self-destruct" after they have been read has been launched.
Staellium UK said that its StealthText service will allow business executives dealing in sensitive information to send texts which will delete themselves from the recipient's mobile phone as soon as the person has read them.
Once a message has been sent, the recipient receives a text notification showing the sender's name and providing a link to the message.
Once opened, the message will disappear after about 40 seconds. Staellium said it has already had interest from financial services companies, the Ministry of Defence and celebrity agents.
"The ability to send a self-destruct message has massive benefits for people from all walks of life, from everyday mobile users, through to celebrities and business people, but this is just the start," said Staellium CEO Carole Barnum in a statement. "In spring 2006 we will be launching new services such as self-destruct email, voice and picture messages, so ultimately no one will ever have to worry about their messages or pictures ending up in the wrong hands ever again," she added.
The service is currently available around the world for users of UK SIM cards only but the company said the service will be available across Europe, in the US and Asia next year.
Comments
There are 11 comments. Join the discussion
1. bob reilly
"A self-destructing text message"? - too stupid for words!
2. bob reilly
"A self-destructing text message"? - too stupid for words!
3. anonymous
I can already see one scam. A company sends you a premium text for which you will be charged.
You read the text and now you have no record of it, other than a big bill, particularly if you are on PAYG and don't receive an itemised bill.
I would far rather delete my own messages thank-you very much.
4. Brad
LOL, that is silly.
Ever heard of Shift+PrtScn ?
Hate to be the gullable CTO that buys into that.
5. Kevin Inskip
And what about the potential use for sending insults, or worse still for use by terrorists?
There are lots of things that technology advances make possible, but which we would be ill advised to do, and this must be near the top of the list.
6. Chris Lambert
What a handy invention for anyone cheating on there other half.
Plus i'm sure there are some real use's as well.
7. anonymous
in age of digital cameras ?
hmm
8. Andrew Livesley
Inherently a gimmic or a stupid concept - however it does suggest that the application of DRM to text and MM messaging could be in the offing so that only users using an authorised device (SIM & phone id) would be able to view an SMS or MMS and controls on forwarding would be possible.
9. Danger Mouse
I'll just have to use my other camera phone to take a picture of the screen. ;)
10. Sleekseke
self destruct? sounds crazy but could be fun.
11. am
yeah thts kwl but hw dya no if its a self destructing 1?