There is a new “Smartphone Anti-Theft Voluntary Commitment” signed by not only carriers like AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile but also bigger dogs like Google, Apple and Microsoft. This is a commitment to adding features to deter smartphone theft in the future. Smartphone theft has been a huge issue as we’ve all heard since you are now buying a $500 smartphone and no longer a $20 flip phone.
All of the carriers and manufacturers signed the smartphone anti-theft voluntary commitment stating that all smartphones after July 2015 will offer free anti-theft tools and services.
Anti-Theft Tools and Services
- Remote wipe the authorized user’s data (i.e., erase personal info that is added after purchase such as contacts, photos, emails, etc.) that is on the smartphone in the event it is lost or stolen.
- Render the smartphone inoperable to an unauthorized user (e.g., locking the smartphone so it cannot be used without a password or PIN), except in accordance with FCC rules for 911 emergency communications, and if available, emergency numbers programmed by the authorized user (e.g., “phone home”).
- Prevent reactivation without authorized user’s permission (including unauthorized factory reset attempts) to the extent technologically feasible (e.g., locking the smartphone as in 2 above).
- Reverse the inoperability if the smartphone is recovered by the authorized user and restore user data on the smartphone to the extent feasible (e.g., restored from the cloud).
While these tools and services will be available it will still be up to the smartphone owner to use them. This is huge as it could potentially reduce thefts of smartphones exponentially for the simple fact that thieves will think twice if the device is useless after stolen. Keep in mind that both Google and Apple offer these services but unless you know what your doing its likely not setup. This will make it part of your setup process ad will increase the number of users.
We are very interested in seeing how this will all work once implemented as well as how universal all of the tools will be. As we hear more we will let you know although we likely won’t know too much more about the Smartphone Anti-Theft Tools until the July 2015 date comes closer.