General Dynamics C4 Systems’ Sectera vIPer Universal Secure Phone. Photo: General Dynamics C4 Systems

[Via Satellite 05-16-2014] General Dynamics C4 Systems delivered the 4,000th Sectera vIPer Universal Secure Phone to the United States Department of State. These phones have been replacing older models of the Secure Terminal Equipment (STE) that the department currently uses. The phone is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device that secures voice and data communications from the Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) level and below for U.S. government personnel. The first Sectera phone was delivered in 2007.

“The vIPer phones are easy-to-use and deliver secure voice and data connectivity, with unprecedented dependability, for department personnel worldwide,” said Chris Marzilli, president of General Dynamics. “With a touch of a button, calls can transition from unencrypted to encrypted and secure, immediately ‘hardening’ the communications network from a call’s origin to its destination, from one office to another or across countries.”

The phones work on legacy, Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN) and Internet Protocol (IP) networks, including satellite communications. They also operate with all U.S. government secure phones, U.S Department of Defense networks and commercial VoIP phones. The vIPer phones integrate into the communications network within two minutes out of the box, and include features such as caller ID and individual phone-call history.