New technology aims to help police nab cellphone thieves

R10 - 15 PER MONTH !?!?!? For what? Some creep steals my phone, flashes it and has his way with it?

No thanks, this is a TOTALY useless invention.:sick:

(Well, at least my mom can see every time I borrow her phone and put my sim in it...)
 
I suspect that a simple firmware flash would either remove this software or would at the very least disable it [e.g. if it's installed to a memory stick or SD card etc].

I also don't like the monthly charge.

Furthermore, I highly doubt that the person using the phone would be pin-pointed unless their position is triangulated, and does this sms only get sent the first time a new sim card is used or does it continually send position update smses? Does the new sim card need to have available airtime before the sms can be sent, or is it more like one of those service smses?

Other than that a nice idea, but probably unlikely to succeed in SA.
 
Why can't the cellphone giants simply trace stolen phones using IMEI?

Because the IMEI can be changed!

As long as the IMEI is not coded in hard silicon, there is not much hope - and even then their will be software cracks to bypass the hard coded IMEI.
 
Unfortunately

Stolen phones often mean an insurance replacement. Who wants their old phone back? Maybe those who don't have insurance - mostly pay as you go subscribers I imagine, who won't sign up for this option anyhow.
 
*yawn* - pointless money making with stupid software. Nothanks.

I pay insurance on my phone. I'd rather claim for it.

... and yes, I backup my phone contents quite often
 
Agreed re money making software. The cell companies and third parties keep trying to bleed the consumer for things that should be free value adds in my book. Theres that alert a couple of people when u get hijacked facility, again R15/ month. I realize that IMEI numbers can be reprogrammed but that is not a bad start, blacklisting or tracing via those.
 
Schmucks.

Instructions to bypass the software:

1) Remove the memory card and format the phone by holding in Green Key+Star+3 and then switch phone on. Keep buttons depressed until phone shows formating message.

2) Keep the pencil key pressed down while switching on the phone. Download fexplore from go-symbian.com. Delete the recognizer (.mdl) file for the application.

The reason I put this on here is because people are going to think that this provides security. It is snake oil. pure and simple snake oil.
 
It's something which has been available for free on Windows Mobile for a long while now. Don't know what the fuss is about.
 
I wonder what percentage of phones one the networks today are ones that have been reported as stolen? After all, even a hot phone can generate revenue for the operator.
 
bwana v.22 said:
I wonder what percentage of phones one the networks today are ones that have been reported as stolen? After all, even a hot phone can generate revenue for the operator.
Click to expand...
Considering that the operators make a substantial portion of their revenue from Pre-paid accounts and that the majority of stolen phones would be used by pre-paid accounts, it is not in their interest to do anything. If they shut down the stolen phones, they cut back on a lot of their revenue.

Cheers

Abe
 
I'd rather get provider insurance on my phone rather than this.
Atleast I know then the phone I'm using wasnt used by a random guy as a vibrator.

And if you have insurnace, then the only reason you would get this might be for data security. And it's a real pathetic way of trying to secure your data.

Man, someone really went all out in making everyone think this is good for news.
 
Good point

bwana v.22 said:
I wonder what percentage of phones one the networks today are ones that have been reported as stolen? After all, even a hot phone can generate revenue for the operator.
Click to expand...

I lodged a case with the SAPS and let MTN know of a theft and more than a week later, MTN hadn't blacklisted my stolen Imate.
 
While there may be insurance coverage for the stolen phone, don't we want the phone to be returned to us even if it is stolen? I rather have the return of the phone and the information it it.

I see it like a form of insurance to increase the chance of a return. Nobody like to lose things.
 
it need to be good

the software needs to be well embedded to prevent removal or we will have the same **** that the tracker companies are having with dishonest staff members they will be the ones that give the game away and it has to be voluentary or we will reside under big brothers evil grin again

:confused: :confused: :confused: :sick:
 
josephmichael said:
While there may be insurance coverage for the stolen phone, don't we want the phone to be returned to us even if it is stolen? I rather have the return of the phone and the information it it.

I see it like a form of insurance to increase the chance of a return. Nobody like to lose things.
Click to expand...

that's the thing, if you have vital info, then ja, it increases the chance of getting your phone back. Chances are though that every tom **** and harry [<-- hehe] knows where to get the phone flashed first before even bothering to use it.

This stuff should be hardcoded into the cellphone in such a way that it makes it nearly impossible to remove, even after a reflash.

And I dont keep vital info on my phone. And for me, I dont want a phone back that's been thrown around just to cause damage to it. You could end up with a broken phone. For me that's a loose, loose situation. I couldve had a new phone compared to the one that's been wasted by someone that cared less about my phone than me.

He can keep it. Ofcourse I'll feel better if crimes arnt being committed using it,
but I dont know how well blacklisting works :)
 
toadstool said:
the software needs to be well embedded to prevent removal or we will have the same **** that the tracker companies are having with dishonest staff members they will be the ones that give the game away and it has to be voluentary or we will reside under big brothers evil grin again

:confused: :confused: :confused: :sick:
Click to expand...

See my previous comment on removal instructions. To auto-start an application on Symbian you need to hook into a recognizer. You can either format the cell-phone on startup, or hold the pencil key down when starting it to disable recognizers.

Its a stupid product giving users false confidence.

The thing is that the networks had always had this information on hand. But you need to subpoena every single one of them to get the information. But in reality it doesn't help if you know the number of the phone - flying to Nigeria is not really an option. Networks should have done a lot a while ago. Its a lot easier for them to recover cellphones, or to do cross-country, cross-network blacklisting.
 
Bugger the software, just an explosive device will do the trick... :D

As long as it makes a loud noise and lots of smoke then it'll scare off a lot of thieves... :D
 
I don't want to be funny but the providers have a) the capability and b) the means to shutdown and render any cellphone useless. The SAPS can also obtain a special warrant to track a phone, but this is a red-tape laced operation, and difficult to get done in a meaningful timeframe. The providers should be more proactive but obviously they fight everything every step of the way. It is possible with current technology to track a cellphone to within a circle of around 10 meters accuracy.
 
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