3 Secure Smartphones for Business

Check out three new models with souped-up security features.

If your mobile phone contains work documents, losing it can prove disastrous for you and your business. With that in mind, more hardware companies are rolling out supersecure models. We ranked the following phones, each of which features robust 256-bit encryption, by their souped-up security features.

HTC One
SecureThe new 5-ounce HTC One features advanced options for unlocking the phone's screen, including face detection and drawing a pattern. As with the other phones here, you can fully encrypt all data on the HTC One under Settings. The Android 4.1.2 phone has front- and rear-facing cameras, a bright 4.7-inch screen, and a superfast Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. Another plus? The phone lasts for an impressive 18 hours of talk time. Cost: $199 for 32GB of storage and a two-year contract with Sprint, AT&T, or T-Mobile

Samsung Galaxy S 4More secure
This 4.6-ounce Android 4.2 phone includes Knox, a feature that provides extra security for work-related files and apps. Using the free Samsung for Enterprise service, your IT staff can wipe phone data remotely and require a strong password to unlock the screen. The S 4 also offers advanced unlock options, including face detection. The phone, which has a large 5-inch display and front- and rear-facing cameras, will be available this spring through several carriers, including AT&T and Verizon. Information on battery life and pricing was not available at presstime, but comparable Samsung models have retailed at $199 for 16GB of storage and a two-year contract.

BlackBerry Z10Most secureThis 4.8-ounce phone has a built-in, highly sophisticated security feature, BlackBerry Balance, that separates and secures work and personal information on the phone. (For example, it prevents users from pasting contents of work emails into emails in personal accounts.) IT staff can add and remove work apps remotely. The phone has a 4.2-inch touchscreen and front- and rear-facing cameras, and it lasts for about 10 hours of talk time. It comes with apps for Linked­In and Dropbox. Cost: $199 for 16GB of storage and a two-year contract from AT&T or Verizon

Apple Shows Off iPhone 5's Features in Two New Ads

Apple unveiled two new television ads Monday that flaunt the iPhone 5's new features. One 30-second spot, called "Brilliant," demonstrates how users can pay for Starbucks items using Passbook, an iOS app that stores all types of tickets (e.g. boarding passes, hotel confirmations, film stubs, vouchers, loyalty cars) without having to print them. Passbook support for Starbucks became available in early October. The ad also features the MyScript Calculator app, which lets users sketch out any math problem, and Philips Hue, a web-enabled LED home-lighting system sold exclusively in Apple stores. "Discover," Apple's other spot (below), highlights the iPhone's shopping functions and musical capabilities. Apple's Maps also makes a brief appearance in it. 


Last month, Apple launched similar ads for its iPad and iPad mini.
What do you think of these latest iPhone 5 ads? Tell us in the comments, below.
Screenshot image courtesy of Apple via YouTube

Google to Cut 10% of Motorola's Workforce

Google's Motorola is planning to cut 10% of its global workforce, the Wall Street Journalreports.

The news comes from an internal company email which explains the reasoning behind the job cuts. "While we're very optimistic about the new products in our pipeline, we still face challenges," it says.

"These cuts are a continuation of the reductions we announced last summer. It's obviously very hard for the employees concerned, and we are committed to helping them through this difficult transition," a Motorola spokesperson said.

Google plans to shed jobs in China, India and the U.S. A total of about 1,200 employees will lose their jobs.

This is a second major wave of layoffs in the company after Google decided to cut the Motorola Mobility workforce by 20% in August 2012. In December 2012, Google sold off Motorola's set top business to Arris for $2.35 billion.

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