The Web- and phone-based application helps customers locate and secure misplaced devices.
Telecommunications company Verizon Wireless has developed an
application designed to help users who have misplaced a mobile device
find it again. Verizon's Mobile Recovery a Web- and phone-based
application, which is offered at no additional charge as part of the
company's Total Equipment Coverage program on compatible devices, also
enables customers to remotely lock the device, sound an alarm and wipe
contacts from the phone. If the phone is not recovered, Total Equipment
Coverage provides next-day replacement.
Mobile Recovery provides Verizon customers with other security
features, including Sound Alarm, which allows customers trying to find
a lost phone to trigger an alarm, even if the phone is on silent or
vibrate mode. If the phone is outside audible range, as long as the
phone is powered on and within Verizon Wireless' coverage area, the
"Locate Phone" feature uses GPS to provide the location of the missing
phone, complete with a map and address, and the option to get
turn-by-turn directions.
The application also includes a secure phone feature--once customers
have determined their phone is lost, they can use the Device Remote
Lock feature to prevent unauthorized use, or the Device Remote Wipe
feature to remotely erase contacts from the device. If customers are
unable to recover their phones with Mobile Recovery, they can file a
claim online and get next-day delivery of a replacement device.
Customers can use Backup Assistant, a free wireless application from
Verizon Wireless available on many of the company's devices, to save a
copy of the phone's address book to a secure Website, allowing
customers to restore their saved address books to new phones
wirelessly. The feature also allows users to schedule daily backups,
save information manually or automatically, log in to the Web account
and get full access to the address book, as well as view, print, add,
delete and edit contacts. Changes are then sent to the phone with one
click.
"Mobile Recovery is further evidence of Verizon Wireless' commitment to
providing customers with the latest solutions for staying connected,
protected and informed," said John Mara, executive director of
marketing for Verizon Wireless. "Mobile Recovery helps customers keep
their private information secure, preserving what matters most to
Verizon Wireless: customers' privacy and their phones."
Mobile Recovery is available to customers with compatible devices at no
additional charge as part of Total Equipment Coverage. A list of
compatible phones can be found on the Mobile Recovery Web site,
including several models of the Google Android powered Droid smartphone
by Motorola and select models from Samsung, HTC and BlackBerry devices.
To download Mobile Recovery, customers can text "GETMR" to 6967, which
will prompt them to download the application and complete the simple
account setup. Data usage charges may apply for download and use of
this application. The company noted lock functionality does not apply
to data on removable memory.
Nathan Eddy is Associate Editor, Midmarket, at eWEEK.com. Before joining eWEEK.com, Nate was a writer with ChannelWeb and he served as an editor at FierceMarkets. He is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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