29/07/2013

Gardaí Back Calls For Stolen Phone "Kill Switch"

With a notable increase in the theft of mobile phones gardaí have called for the introduction of a "kill switch" that would immediately disable a stolen phone.

Currently, a stolen mobile phone can only be disabled if the international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number is known, which is a 15-digit code unique to each phone.

However, should a phone be shipped overseas, which gardaí believe the majority of stolen mobiles in fact are, then the phone cannot be disabled.

Gardaí are backing calls being made by authorities in the UK and the US for a new industry wide "kill switch", which would disable a stolen phone anywhere.

It is understood that authorities in the UK have written Apple, Nokia, Samsung, Motorola, HTC, Microsoft, BlackBerry and Sony, while city hall officials in New York are trying to broker transatlantic collaboration.

(MH/CD)

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