It's Time To Start Taking Stolen Phones Seriously

itwbennett writes "'Find My iPhone' is neat, but it's time for smartphone makers and carriers to stop pretending their anti-theft measures are anything more than minimum viable products, says blogger Kevin Purdy. He's not the first to point this out: As reported in Slashdot, 'NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said overall crime in New York City was up 3.3% in 2012 due to iPhone, iPad and other Apple device thefts.' And now San Francisco and New York attorneys general are calling a 'Smartphone Summit' where representatives from Apple, Google, Samsung, and Microsoft are due to meet and discuss the implementation of a industry-wide 'kill switch' system."

Why is it a consumer isue?

[waddgodd]

The NSA is listening in on everything anyways, why aren't they arresting phone thieves when they use the phones?

If VZW wont help, just call the NSA

[anthony_greer]

They will know exactly where that bad boy is and who the theif is calling...

Blame game

[Anonymous Coward]

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg said overall crime in New York City was up 3.3% in 2012 due to iPhone, iPad and other Apple device thefts

It's Apple's fault that NYC is a crime ridden shit hole. If these disgusting companies would stop making products that people actually want New Yorkers wouldn't have to resort to robbing each other! Why can't Apple and Google be more like Microsoft!

Re:Blame game

[clarkkent09]

We are talking about Bloomberg here, the guy who blames large cups for obesity.

2 things

[Osgeld]

I own a microsoft powered phone, no one wants it

What happens when "hackers" get hold of this kill switch?