Virtual Phones

Providing a mobile dimension to investigative environments is central to modern investigative work, which often includes using apps on a mobile device. Alias’s Virtual Phones are specifically designed to achieve this, offering a virtual phone device paired to the same internet connection as the virtual desktop. This ensures your investigative environments support the full range of modern communication modalities your analysts need.

two cellphones

Why Virtual Phones Matter

In a modern investigative environment, a mobile device is often the missing piece. It’s where apps, SMS, calls, camera, messaging and phone-based connectivity all come together. Our Virtual Phones bring that full mobile layer into the Alias platform, enabling your investigative environment to operate with the same connectivity and behavior as a real user.

What You Get

  • End-to-End Mobile Identity

    Provision Android devices that include consistent device metadata (GPS, OS version, screen size, language/locale, fonts, resolution) and mobile connectivity. These are linked to the same network and attribution stack as the rest of the Alias environment — eliminating siloed investigations or inconsistent behavior.

  • Seamless Integration with Investigative Environments

    Each virtual phone is directly attributed to the corresponding virtual desktop and SMS number within Alias. This means your investigation has one cohesive investigative environment across desktop and mobile tooling, reducing risk of cross-contamination or attribution leakage.

  • Native Device Features

    Use device passthrough (camera, mic, audio, video) to support native device workflows: install apps, join video calls, capture evidence or perform live investigations. Our virtual phones are built not just for access, but for operational fidelity.

two cellphones with network connectivity graphics
  • Integrated Into Team Operations

    No more managing pools of physical devices or maintaining stacks of hardware. Analysts can securely access and share the same virtual phone from the web or their own personal cellphones, without exposing personal hardware or mixing environments.

  • Secure File & Evidence Handling

    Transfer files into the virtual phone environment while maintaining segmentation from your host environment. Screenshots, recordings, and session logs are preserved under chain-of-custody controls — so mobile activity becomes legitimate, reportable evidence.

  • Access

    Create gold-standard “phone” templates for your investigations: pre-configured OS, network region, language settings, app suite and attribution controls. Clone quickly when scaling operations, backup and restore device states, and maintain consistency across teams and assignments.

Use-Cases

  • Support for mobile-based research workflows

  • Video conferencing or live multimedia engagement from a virtual phone

  • Mobile-specific e2-e workflows where a desktop browser alone won’t suffice

  • Evidence capture involving mobile interactions — documented and auditable

  • Scaling up investigations across teams with identical investigation phones, all under centralized oversight

Seamless Integration and Customization

Similar to Virtual Desktops and SMS numbers, Alias’s Virtual Phones are pinned to an Alias instance, ensuring that each investigative environment remains distinct and secure. This infrastructure organization and our single pane of glass interface prevents any mix-up of devices or data between different investigations, preserving the integrity of your operations.

Linked Instances

Your virtual phone instance is directly tied to the corresponding virtual desktop instance within Alias. This ensures that all components of your investigative environment, including the SMS number, remain consistent and properly associated, reducing the risk of cross-contamination between different investigations.

cellphone graphic with a human holding a tablet
Device Passthrough

Enjoy device passthrough capabilities, allowing audio, video, camera, and other peripherals to be utilized seamlessly within your virtual phone environment. This feature enables you to watch videos, participate in video conferences, and perform other tasks that require real-time multimedia interaction, just as you would on a physical device.

Advanced Customization

Create gold templates of your virtual phones to standardize environments across your organization, ensuring consistency and reducing setup time for new investigations. You can also clone, backup, and restore your virtual phones with ease, giving you full control over your mobile environments and the flexibility to adjust as needed.

This enhanced customization and integration make Alias’s Virtual Phones not just a tool, but a versatile and reliable partner in your investigative workflows.

SockPuppet is available only to vetted organizations for lawful investigative, security, compliance, and public-safety purposes. Customers are responsible for ensuring that their use complies with applicable law, internal authorization requirements, and third-party platform terms.

Get Started with SockPuppet Today

Let’s power your next investigation together.

Contact SockPuppet today to discuss your operational needs and see how Alias can support your mission.