Secure new Android messaging service will rival iMessage

CyanogenMod is looking to step up the security in its popular third-party Android software. In addition to an incognito mode to keep personal data secure from individual applications, the team is working on an encrypted messaging service, known as PushSMS, for CyanogenMod users that looks to rival iMessage in terms of security. Developer Koushik Dutta revealed this week that he has built a secure push-based messaging plugin for the software that encrypts messages between two CyanogenMod users from end to end and is sent over the Google Cloud Messaging service. He noted that because the feature is built directly into the CyanogenMod framework, it’s compatible with third-party messaging apps such as GoSMS and Handcent. PushSMS isn’t available yet, however it will likely arrive in upcoming CyanogenMod test builds in the next few weeks.