A LoJack for Cell Phones

Reader Manfred Wedell writes: A day or two ago I asked if you knew of any "LoJack" type service for cell phones, to which you said you didn't and suggested simply getting another phone. However, I've stumbled upon what may be just that!

Manfred sent me this link to a review of a software product called PhoneBak, which appears to be very similar to what LoJack for Laptops offers. According to the review, the software works like this: PhoneBak doesn't do anything unless a new SIM card is inserted into the phone, at which point the phone sends you a text message containing information that could help you identify the phone and its new "owner." That info includes the SIM card's ID number, the phone's ID number, and the phone number of the new SIM card. With this info it should be much easier to track down where the phone went, especially if it's still in your area code. The review goes on to note that the software isn't very friendly but that it is not a bad value for those with heavy security needs. (Alas, there's a catch: The company doesn't market the software in the United States, and I'm not entirely sure whether it works here at all. It costs 7 British Pounds in the UK, though, so it's not too big of a risk if you decide to give it a shot.)

The PhoneBak review mentions its use on Symbian phones (primarily Nokias), but the software is also available for Pocket PC/Windows Mobile devices, and the company markets similar software called Verey I for MacOS computers, as well (it even sends a video capture of the thief using the Mac's built-in webcam).

This all gets me back to my original conversation with Manfred, where I suggested that a LoJack for cell phones was probably overkill for most users: The hassle of managing the software and attempting to recover a lost phone, I said, is probably not worth it when you can simply buy a new phone with minimal headache. Well, that's probably not the best advice for every cell phone user, the more I think about it. As more and more sensitive data ends up on phones, protecting that information can be a critical issue. There's also the concern that some of the latest handsets (iPhone, anyone?) can cost as much as a cheap laptop... and which will be ripe targets for theft, too. The more I think about it, the more a LoJack for cell phones makes sense... but only under certain circumstances.

If anyone out there has tried PhoneBak (in the U.S. or overseas), please share your experiences here!