In an announcement earlier today, Sprint has unveiled a new feature being added to the wireless carrier's Total Equipment Protection Plan. The new feature will now let owners of a BlackBerry or Android-powered device remotely lock or wipe their handset. With security for customers' devices a high priority, Sprint is also including the ability to sound an alarm even if the device is in silent mode, or to find the smartphone in real-time (with map-tracking also enabled) with GPS.

There's a $7 a month fee for the Total Equipment Protection Plan, but considering what it included before the update, and now what it features, that's a pretty small sum. Sprint's also quick to note that all customers should put a password on their device, for added security, which should be common practice for those who have sensitive material on their phones. If you want the new features, you'll have to update the Total Equipment Protection application on your smartphone.

Via PhoneScoop