Remember that
Windows Mobile 6.5-equipped
HTC phone that was
stolen from the Telstra exec at MWC? Well it looks like you can forget about any hands-on videos popping up -- to quote the immortal words of Will Smith from
Men in Black, the device has apparently been flashy thing'd, from afar. According to an anonymous Microsoft staffer speaking to
APC, the company remotely wiped all traces of the operating system and user data from the mobile as soon as it was reported pickpocketed, so unless the thief was smart enough to immediately place it in a faraday cage, this phone's probably a bit too frazzled for the limelight right now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Randy @ Feb 23rd 2009 5:47PM
If he (the thief) was smart, he would've removed the sim card asap. No faraday cage needed.
000000 @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:27PM
What's this remote wiping of the OS trick? I call BS.
ManoloDF @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:40PM
Yea, i believe they mean they remotely wiped contacts and information (ie. Exchange Server) just like you can remote wipe any other exchange server phone including the iphone and other winmo phones.
tande @ Feb 23rd 2009 8:55PM
I'm sure they wiped the OS from it.
Its not like its going to be a 6.5 feature but I'd imagine when you're running around with pre-release software they put a killswitch of some kind in there.
Proto732 @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:08PM
unh... yeah, exchange doesn't have a "remote brick" option for WinMo.
at best it got restored to out of the box condition, w/ storage card wiped.
If the SIM card was removed ... all bets are off.
ShogunMaster @ Feb 23rd 2009 9:20PM
I have SmartPhoneTracker (it's free!) on my Touch Pro. You can email/text a code word to it that automatically starts up the GPS. Once it has a lock, it replies to a set email address or replies to the text/email you sent it (you choose when you set it up), and then it sends you a link to Google Maps that shows you precise location of your phone. The latest release will actually track your phone, so it will tell you if it's on the move.
http://smartphonetracker.blogspot.com/
But ya, I'm sure someone with a new 6.5 build would have something on it that could brick the phone.
Victor @ Feb 23rd 2009 10:55PM
It's actually a add on you can place on Microsoft Exchange 2003. We use it specifically for the purpose of remote wiping a phone in case it is lost or stolen. Works great, of course I had to test it on a few test subjects to make sure it worked as advertised.
Celz @ Feb 24th 2009 2:04AM
Actually there are a few programs that are much better than that feature.. A few of em will alert you when a new sim is detected. So if that phone ever catches a signal again it will be wiped or locked. And the software cant be erased unless you wipe the phone yourself. I use Sprite Terminator.. Its worth the price.. This is one of the many reasons I'm with Wm over anyone else you get applications that actually do things..
boss-hogg @ Feb 24th 2009 11:11AM
@ Celz, I can do this for free on my Nokia E71