Nokia develops crime-buster handset

Nokia is seeking a US patent for a mobile phone feature allowing users to summon help at the touch of a button.

An alarm is triggered by pushing two buttons on either side of the phone. The handset then speed dials an emergency centre while recording pictures and sounds of the surrounding events for transmission to a pre-arranged location.

GPS technology integrated into the phone automatically keeps track of the victim's location.

Nokia has designed the mechanism to activate discreetly so as not to alert an attacker and risk further harm to the victim.

Although the US Patent & Trademark Office received an application for the patent on 29 December, Nokia has not released any plans on availability or pricing for the emergency feature.

Nokia spokesman Damian Stathonikos said: "The patent application does not mean that we are necessarily planning to install this emergency feature in any of our phones in the future.

"We are constantly developing new technologies in our research labs and applying for patents to protect our intellectual property rights."