Nobody ever thinks they’re going to lose their phone… until they do. And that means that many “find my phone” apps are next to useless, because if you don’t install them on your phone and keep them running all the time, how are you supposed to find your phone when it’s stolen or goes missing?
Lookout Security has come up with a pretty clever solution. It’s called Plan B, and it’s an app that you can install on your phone after you lose it.
The app uses the Android Market’s new web-to-phone installer, so it will only work if you have a phone that supports the feature. If you do, you’re good to go. All you have to do is find the free Plan B app in the Android Market using a web browser, and click the install button to send the app to your phone.
Once installed, your phone will turn on its GPS function and start sending you emails every few minutes with links to a Google Map showing the phone’s location. This will go on for about 10 minutes. If you need more time, just text the word “locate” to your phone from another device and the process will start over again.
Note that Plan B will send SMS messages from your phone, and you may be charged even if you have an unlimited domestic calling plan, since the calls are sent to a number in Singapore.
Plan B is in beta testing, and the app only works in the US right now and only supports phones running Android 2.0 and up on AT&T, Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile networks.
via CNET
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