Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 04 October 2006 13:50
Opinion and Analysis
Page 1 of 2
Remote XT has garnered enormous publicity from its service that can set a cellphone off screaming incessantly if it is reported stolen.
The company claims that even battery removal will silence this audible indication of wrongdoing only temporarily (until the battery is re-inserted). And it makes the grand claim, with no justification whatsoever: "Mobile Phone Theft to be Stamped Out in Two Years."
Sorry but that is totally ridiculous. Even if every single cellphone users in the UK opted for the service (and at 10 quid a month why would they?), crims being crims they would still nick them.
If you need evidence of this you need look no further than Australia where the industry has lead the world (although it took several years for the operators to get their collective act together) in offering IMEI blocking of lost or stolen mobiles.
If your cellphone is stolen, simply call your operator, give them the international mobile equipment identify (IMEI) of your cellphone and hey presto, it won't work on any mobile network in Australia.
