YAPs
YAPs is an end-to-end secure messaging system that fully encrypts the message from person to person (P2P) or source to destination. The user types in a message on their phone as he/she would for an SMS Message, and is then asked if they want to encrypt it. By assigning a PIN or key to the message on the phone handset, YAPs automatically encrypts the message and sends it to the recipient via a mobile phone network. To decrypt the message, the recipient has to know the key or PIN used to encrypt the message sent by the sender. The message remains encrypted from source to destination and is stored on both phones as well as in the mobile phone network in encrypted form only - end-to-end security.
On initial activation, the user downloads the application as they would a ring tone or mobile phone game. The subscription is automatically renewed each month on the anniversary of the first download of the application. The pricing structure compares favourably to the average price of ring tones and similar download products.
Additionally, the same market research shows that texting is seen as the preferred route for many mobile phone users.
Research has also shown that for some business applications, security is a key issue and even in personal messaging, users are concerned about the privacy of the message sent.
For the secure element of YAPs, recent media reports on mobile phone 'hacking' should have raised awareness of the need for secure messaging options. There are also certain groups of society (e.g. celebrities) who could benefit from the added security that YAPs offers.
