iPhone and MobileMe customers have been enjoying the Find My iPhone service for quite some time, but there hasn't been a service similar in quality for customer that didn't feel like signing two years of their mobile lives away to AT&T. Verizon is aiming to change that with their new Mobile Recovery service, which will allow a user to remotely lock their device, wipe contacts, and sound an alarm. If your attempts at finding your lost device prove unsuccessful, VZW will give you a replacement the next day. Mobile Recovery is free and available for Android, webOS, and BlackBerry devices, but you must also be signed up for Verizon's Total Equipment Coverage, which costs $8 per month. Check out the full press release below.
While there have been services available in the past that mimic the functionality found in Find My iPhone, many of them haven't been able to match the quality of Apple's software. That's why I'm glad to see Verizon come along with their own offering. I'm sure that Mobile Recovery is going to be a great option for webOS, Android, and BlackBerry owners who occasionally misplace their handset. Sure, $8 a month may seem a little steep, but think of all the time you'll save by not having to root through your couch cushions, looking for your lost phone that you just so happened to place on vibrate right before it went missing!
Verizon Wireless Adds Mobile Recovery Application To Total Equipment Coverage Program
Web- and Phone-based Application Helps Customers Locate and Secure Misplaced Devices
09/20/2010
BASKING RIDGE, NJ - Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless company with the largest, most reliable voice and 3G data network, and Asurion, a global leader in technology protection services, today announced Mobile Recovery™, a web- and phone-based application that can help customers in the event they lose or misplace their phones. Asurion's Mobile Recovery app, now offered at no additional charge as part of Verizon Wireless' 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 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, marketing, 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 provides Verizon Wireless customers with security features, including:
* Sound Alarm – Customers trying to find a lost phone can use the "Sound Alarm" feature which triggers an alarm, even if the phone is on silent or vibrate mode.
* Locate Phone – If the phone is outside audible range, customers no longer have to retrace their steps looking for it. 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.
* Secure Phone – 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 simply file a claim online and get next-day delivery of a replacement device. Customers can use Backup Assistant(SM), a free wireless application from Verizon Wireless available on many 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.
Verizon Wireless reminds customers they should not attempt to retrieve their devices from any location that is not safe, unrecognized or unfamiliar. If a device has been stolen or is in an unsafe or unfamiliar location, customers should contact local law enforcement.
Pricing and Availability
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 website. 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. Lock functionality does not apply to data on removable memory.
