This SMS will self-destruct in 40 seconds
By Barb Dybwad 
posted Dec 10th 2005 5:08PM
posted Dec 10th 2005 5:08PM
StealthText is a new service in the UK that allows you to send messages that will be deleted from the recipient's
cellphone after they've read it, to address that nagging problem of all your top-secret SMS messages falling into enemy
hands. Your urgent nefarious texts will self-destruct within 40 seconds of being read. Mind you, if you really do have
a need to traffic in sensitive information, we can't really advocate SMS as the most secure channel — then again,
criminals don't seem to be known for their smarts
these days.
[Via textually]
That is one of the funniest article title/picture combos that I've seen yet. Sweet job guys.
Just noticed that it was posted by "Barb."
So, sweet just "gals" too.. :)
I wonder how it works...
I don't think BluePhoneElite would give up any text messages. :)
HAHAHAHA Dude Peter, you took that vibrator post off! Hahaha that is hilarious!
how much is it though? nothing about price any where
mroach: check out the link. Basically, it proxies it through a one-time-use WAP link. The site mentions an applet. Not sure if it's seamless once you install the applet (obviously there is something phone-specific here).
Kind of ... eh.
(If it's a "real" SMS msg, once it's on the phone, there's no way to delete it that I know)
Personally, I think it would be more useful if we could have them automatically expire at a certain time. That would make the "drunk dial" via SMS even better ... if you get it tonight, fine, but leave no evidence in the morning!
From the website: "The only costs incurred are £.50 per StealthText, plus your regular service charge for using your network. No extra costs."
Nothing clever about this service. There are about 40 different classes of SMS that can be sent e.g. delete once read, only display but don't save on handset etc. The SMS protocol has this 'flags' built-in just that no-one uses them.
I looked at using one of these flags to send PINs to users that would display but wouldn't be saved as a security measure when I was working on a mobile wallet solution for vodafone
Hey,
This article sound like a feature in the sms called "Flash SMS" basically you sent someone a FLASH SMS and it appear on the screen of the reciepient right away and it does not save itself anywhere and once you'v exited the message, there is no way to reteve it.
If you have a mobile phone with bluetooth, try using a program called FloatMobileAgent it has the ability to send FLASH SMS once you've paired it with your phone.
Try it :)
Hey,
This article sound like a feature in the sms called "Flash SMS" basically you sent someone a FLASH SMS and it appear on the screen of the reciepient right away and it does not save itself anywhere and once you'v exited the message, there is no way to reteve it.
If you have a mobile phone with bluetooth, try using a program called FloatMobileAgent it has the ability to send FLASH SMS once you've paired it with your phone.
Try it :)
I have a screenshot saver for my Nokia. I doubt anyone can bypass that. A lot of handsets can copy and paste text too.
I don't think this is very secure and am a bit concerned that they've "already received enquiries from interested parties as diverse as financial services, MOD and celebrity agents". The MOD is the Ministry of Defence in the UK.
Awesome
This service isn't using previously unused flags nor special SMS facilities.
It sends them a SMS message that tells them they have a secure message and contains a link to a WAP site that will only display this message once.
Big deal, any kid with a mobile, PC interface and basic PHP or ASP knowledge could knock this up.
[)
I think the target market for these type of text messages will be the absent-minded husbands/mistresses rather than criminals.
great.....but all these things never come to india