Subject: [NEXTEL-1] Tool to Curb Phone Theft

From: [email-masked]
Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2003 14:20:59 -0400

Tool to Curb Phone Theft

The East African Standard (Nairobi)
July 8, 2003
Posted to the web July 8, 2003
John Oyuke
Nairobi

Mobile phone anti-theft device is set to be
introduced in the Kenyan market in the
next two weeks.

It entails installing identification marks such as
the owner's picture, company logo or contact
number which would become a permanent
feature on the screen of the mobile phone.

According to a statement from
Phonetrack Africa Ltd. the creators of
the new technology, said any attempt to
tamper with or remove the mark would
destroy the phone.

"Once this device is introduced it would
henceforth become a futile exercise to
risk one's life to steal a cell phone
because nobody would be willing to buy
it," said the statement.

The firm said it was its intention to
contribute to the responsible use of
technology and resources, particularly in
the control of mobile phone theft.
Available statistics indicate that over
200 mobile phones are stolen daily in
Nairobi alone.

Last week, leading mobile phone
network operator, Safaricom,
acknowledged that the issue of stolen
phones was extremely serious and
added to violent and non-violent crime
incidents in the country.

General manager, Michael Joseph,
however said plans were at advanced
stage by network operators in the
region to introduce Equipment
Identification Register (EIR) element to
disable stolen phones by the end of
December, this year.

He said the operators were committed to purchasing and installing a software that
would enable them upload and download stolen handset data. This will have the
ability to block the phones from being used on any of their network in the region.

Phonetrack, a new firm in the market, also disclosed plans to simultaneously open
offices in other East African Community (EAC) member states -Uganda, Tanzania -
and also exploit markets in Burundi and Rwanda.

 http://allafrica.com/stories/200307080067.html

------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-->
Save up to 80% on top-quality inkjet cartridges and get your order fast!
FREE shipping on orders $50 or more to the US & Canada. Shop at Myinks.com!
http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511
http://us.click.yahoo.com/v2G7ND/KfUGAA/ySSFAA/61FxlB/TM
---------------------------------------------------------------------~->

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/