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03 Oct 2006
Mobile phone thieves are in for a shock if the phone they steal is protected by a new service from Remote XT.
The phone will be locked and wiped of all data if the thief removes the SIM card, but will also let out an ear-piercing scream that can only be stopped by removing the battery.
Phone data can also be backed up to Remote XT's servers, protecting the user's information.
Remote XT supports directives from the Home Office and the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit (NMPCU) to fight rising handset theft.
"The NMPCU focuses on reducing the market for stolen mobile phones by targeting those who handle or re-program stolen mobile phones and those who seek to export them," said detective superintendent Steve Bending.
"We are supportive of measures that make mobile phones less desirable items to steal and worthless in the hands of those who seek to profit from mobile phone criminality.
"Any opportunity to disable a mobile phone and render it useless should it be stolen, is welcomed."
Jack Wraith, chairman of the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum, added: "Any product which adds a level of security for the user and a barrier for the thief has to be good news."
Home Secretary John Reid stated that the public should be free to carry valuable items on the streets, such as mobile phones and MP3 players, without "fear of becoming a target for robbers".
Remote XT backs up the entire contents of a mobile phone either daily, weekly or monthly, or can be set to save data by the number of transactions carried out.
The service starts at £9.99 + VAT per month and is only compatible with phones running Microsoft's Windows Mobile or Symbian's S60, S80 and UIQ.
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Do you agree?
Actually, yes it is pointless
Because it is not an effective detterent and doesn't stop the item from being taken from the owner does it? So the thief gets a little shock, big deal, won't stop them chucking it in the bin then doing it again will it? Simon, you missed previous post's point, no battery, no scream.
Posted by: Fuzzyfreak 09 Nov 2006
Hardly pointless
The scream is hardly pointless, it will give the thief a nasty surprise when they do snatch the phone. From what I gather, the REAL killer app here is that the phone is completely unusable even if the SIM is removed. Nothing the robber can do with it at all, scream or no scream. but this feature has certainly gotten a lot of attention.
Posted by: Simon Clay 11 Oct 2006
pointless
This new security feature doesnt sound usefull at all. Im not sure how the newer phones are but with mine, the only way to remove the SIM card is to remove the battery first. So without the battery, the phone will never "scream" when the SIM is being removed. Kind of pointless having this service for me.
Posted by: john 03 Oct 2006