Screaming Phones Help to Finger Thieves

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.synchronica.com/press/releases/060901-its-a-scream.html' target='_blank'>http://www.synchronica.com/press/releases/060901-its-a-scream.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>" According to the Metropolitan Police figures, 10,000 mobile phones are stolen every month. But a new service from mobile device management company Synchronica (<a href="www.synchronica.com">www.synchronica.com</a>) aims to help victims of theft strike back. Synchronica's mobile phone management software Mobile Manager can remotely lock and wipe data from mobile phones as soon as their owners report the loss. If the phone has been stolen, companies can also turn on the Synchronica Scream Feature, causing an annoying and embarrassing high pitched wail to be emitted from the stolen device."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20060903-Scream.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />The scream in question almost sounds like something out of a horror movie. You can listen to the screams in <a href="http://www.synchronica.com/syncml-download/synchronica-mobile-manager-screams.mp3">MP3 format.</a> I think it would be funny if the scream said something like" Help - I've been stolen!" :lol: Overall, I think this is a great sounding product, but other than the screams, it doesn't really offer anything more than Microsoft's MSFP. While remote wipe is a powerful feature to clear your data from the device, it ends up giving the thief a clean, unlocked Windows Mobile device. I still think the remote wipe should be followed by a remote lock with a return label displayed on the screen. I don't understand why companies haven't implemented this feature yet. :?

[ctmagnus]

What's the app that sends an SMS when the device is stolen? Eye on Theif, or something similar? I can't find it atm.

[Rocco Augusto]

What's the app that sends an SMS when the device is stolen? Eye on Theif, or something similar? I can't find it atm.

http://smartphonethoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=10553&amp;highlight=eye+theif

:)

[Mike Temporale]

Personally, I think we need an app that does both. Allows me to wipe the device, but also can send an alert when the SIM is changed. That would rock.

[Kris Kumar]

While remote wipe is a powerful feature to clear your data from the device, it ends up giving the thief a clean, unlocked Windows Mobile device. I still think the remote wipe should be followed by a remote lock with a return label displayed on the screen. I don't understand why companies haven't implemented this feature yet. :?

This is the classic consumer vs. enterprise needs/priority. Smartphone/Pocket PCs are still marketed as devices for business customers. For enterprise users, data is more important than the hardware. They would care less if they lost the hardware which has a fixed price, but the intangible cost of the information stored on the device makes it important for corporations to implement remote wipe.

The question I would like answered is whether the remote wipe is based on the SIM ID or the IMEI of the device. What if I change the SIM the moment I find the phone, wouldn't that mean that the remote wipe will not get to me. Or if I put the phone in flight mode?

[Mike Temporale]

The question I would like answered is whether the remote wipe is based on the SIM ID or the IMEI of the device. What if I change the SIM the moment I find the phone, wouldn't that mean that the remote wipe will not get to me. Or if I put the phone in flight mode?

It doesn't really matter - as long as you have setup and configured password protection on the device. You might be able to turn off the phone and swap the SIM card, but as soon as you power it back on you'll need to enter a password. And if you don't get it right in x number of attempts the device will wipe anyway. So, the key here is to use the password lock feature. ;)

[Mike Temporale]

The question I would like answered is whether the remote wipe is based on the SIM ID or the IMEI of the device.

I went off and did a little research on this. Turns out, it's based on a unique identifier in the ROM of the device. So it's not the SIM or the IMEI of the device. And now you know. ;)

Special thanks to fellow Mobile Device MVP - Mauricio from Geekzone (http://www.geekzone.co.nz) for the answer. 8)

[Kris Kumar]

Turns out, it's based on a unique identifier in the ROM of the device. So it's not the SIM or the IMEI of the device. And now you know. ;)

Special thanks to fellow Mobile Device MVP - Mauricio from Geekzone (http://www.geekzone.co.nz) for the answer. 8)

Cool, so as long as the device has access to the data network, the remote wipe would take place regardless of SIM change. Thanks to Mauricio and to you for digging it up.

I like the idea about putting the password and multiple incorrect attempts wiping the device. For now entering the password for me to unlock the device is a hassle. :oops: Can't wait for the biometric or finger print scan systems to become standard on the smart phones. So that we can get rid of these passwords and have single touch access. ;-) And not to forget data wipe if the scan didn't match.

[expediter]

It doesn't really matter - as long as you have setup and configured password protection on the device. You might be able to turn off the phone and swap the SIM card, but as soon as you power it back on you'll need to enter a password. And if you don't get it right in x number of attempts the device will wipe anyway. So, the key here is to use the password lock feature. ;)

Is the device wiping automatic or does it have to be configured? I can't find any options regarding this.

[synchronica]

[i]" Overall, I think this is a great sounding product, but other than the screams, it doesn't really offer anything more than Microsoft's MSFP. While remote wipe is a powerful feature to clear your data from the device, it ends up giving the thief a clean, unlocked Windows Mobile device. I still think the remote wipe should be followed by a remote lock with a return label displayed on the screen. I don't understand why companies haven't implemented this feature yet. :?

Synchronica's MobileManager does offer a lock feature. In fact there are three different versions of lock (SIM, PUK and Application Lock). In addition, MobileManager does offer distribution of settings, documents and applications as well as query of device settings to help support. Unlike MSFP it can be offered as a hosted service by ASPs and mobile operators so it does not require to be installed at the enterprise.

Check out http://www.synchronica.com/products/syncml/mobile-manager.html for a list of features.

A PDF flyer is available here http://www.synchronica.com/syncml-download/synchronica-mobile-manager.pdf

[Mike Temporale]

Is the device wiping automatic or does it have to be configured? I can't find any options regarding this.

the remote wipe and lock features are remotly administrated. You need an Exchange server with SP2 installed for you to configure and enable these features.

[Mike Temporale]

Synchronica's MobileManager does offer a lock feature. In fact there are three different versions of lock (SIM, PUK and Application Lock).

Right, but do any of them apply AFTER a remote wipe? That is what I'm referring to in my above post.

While remote wipe is a powerful feature to clear your data from the device, it ends up giving the thief a clean, unlocked Windows Mobile device. I still think the remote wipe should be followed by a remote lock with a return label displayed on the screen.

:wink:

[expediter]

Is the device wiping automatic or does it have to be configured? I can't find any options regarding this.

the remote wipe and lock features are remotly administrated. You need an Exchange server with SP2 installed for you to configure and enable these features.

Don't have one of those :?
Know of any good software that does this? Some years back I used to use TealLock on my Palm and it did just that.

[Mike Temporale]

Don't have one of those :?
Know of any good software that does this? Some years back I used to use TealLock on my Palm and it did just that.

You're phone has a built in locking feature. It's just not remote powered. :wink: Start / Settings / Security / Device Lock

[expediter]

Don't have one of those :?
Know of any good software that does this? Some years back I used to use TealLock on my Palm and it did just that.

You're phone has a built in locking feature. It's just not remote powered. :wink: Start / Settings / Security / Device Lock

True but it doesn't have a wipe feature. Admittedly I'm not a rocket scientist and there are no state secrets on my phone. But it's my data!