Mobile phones to scream when stolen

Tue, 03 Oct 2006

A UK firm is hoping a cell phones security system it has developed which sets off a high pitch scream, permanently locks the handset and wipes all data if stolen, will halt the spiralling rise in phone theft.

The Remote XT technology, designed to make phones unusable, and therefore worthless if they are stolen, works by installing software onto the operating system of the phone which is then activated via a call to a call centre once users realise their phone has been snatched or lost.

The phone is then remotely disabled, all the data held on the device is wiped and a high pitched screech is triggered.

Although taking the battery out temporarily disables the sound, it activates once the battery has been replaced.

Data stored on the phone, however, is not lost when it’s wiped from the system, as the service includes daily remote backup so that it can be downloaded on to a new handset .

Mark Whiteman, managing director of Remote XT, said, "By making mobiles unusable to anyone but the rightful owner, the phones become worthless and we'll see market for stolen handsets stamped out once and for all. "Theft-proof phones spell disaster for the huge criminal industry that has profited from mobile theft for too long."

Although similar software has previously primarily aimed at business users, as it only runs on Symbian or Windows Mobile, Remote XT supports most mobile phones . However, a subscription costs an eyebrow-raising £10 a month.

Perhaps mobile service providers should be encouraged to offer the technology in a package deal .

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