UK Firm To Release 'Screaming' Cell Phone

rubberbando writes "Yahoo news is running a story about a plan by a UK cell phone company to help reduce cell theft. Apparently, this new cell phone can be sent a signal after its owner has realized that it has been lost or stolen. The signal tells the phone to wipe all of its data and begin emitting a very loud and obnoxious sound. The sound will only stop if the battery runs out or is removed, but it will begin again as soon as the battery is replaced or charged. Even replacing the sim card will not help."

loud and obnoxious

[Anonymous Coward]

And I thought cell phones were already loud and obnoxious...

Another deep thought...

[mctk]

If cell phones could scream, would we be so cavalier about smashing them on the ground? We might, if they screamed all the time for no good reason.

i can only wait

[macadamia_harold]

The signal tell the phone to wipe all of its data and begin emitting a very loud and obnoxious sound.

Isn't this what happens if Paris Hilton calls you?

As Hammurabi said, a blown-up face for a phone.

[CosmeticLobotamy]

"We also then set a small bomb off, if you like, that completely wipes the data...

As well as the ear and most of the face of the thief? Seems a little harsh.

Re:loud and obnoxious

[Null Perception]

No, its just the people that use them

It makes me think of...

[d3m0nCr4t]

Screaming Jay Hawkins... "I put a spell on you, cause you're mine."

Who do the police arrest?

[badfish99]

So someone stole a phone, and now it is making a very loud unpleasant noise. So they have dumped it near my house and it is still making the noice and I am very annoyed. So I hit it with a brick until it stops.

Question: who gets taken to court? The phone manufacturer, for creating a noise nuisance? Or the thief, for stealing the phone? Or me, for damaging someone else's property?

I know the answer: it will be me, won't it?

Too late!

[Toreo asesino]

This isn't innovation! Anyone that lives in the UK will know that not only was this done yonks ago [wikipedia.org], but it even made it into the Top of the Pops [crazyfroghits.com] when it came out.

The obvious next step

[Gerocrack]

Screaming not annoying enough for you? The next version will randomly spew a stream of urine.

Re:Who do the police arrest?

[Anonymous Coward]

The brick manufacturer for making an unsafe product.

Re:New terrorist weapon...

[z0idberg]

The Dept. of Homeland Security called.

They want their paranoia back.

Re:As Hammurabi said, a blown-up face for a phone.

[ricky-road-flats]

As well as the ear and most of the face of the thief? Seems a little harsh.

/insert standard Sony laptop battery joke here/

Actually it reminded me of something I was talking about just yesterday, a funny scene from the BBC series from the 1980s, 'The New Statesman'. The main star (Rik Mayall) is held up at knifepoint, and quickly hands over his wallet when it's demanded. The theif runs off, at which point the star smiles, pulls out a little remote from his breast pocket, flips a switch and presses the red button. You hear an explosion and a scream in the distance. Great stuff!

awesome!

[commodoresloat]

First and foremost, you must write down your IMEI number. Simply type *#06# into your cell phone. It may look like: AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D . That is the serial number of the phone, and it will not change if the SIM is changed. Write it down into a safe place.

Excellent! I am writing the number down right now in the memo pad application on my cell phone!

Re:i can only wait

[banuk]

Isn't this what happens if Paris Hilton calls you?

You're wrong, it doesnt happen to your cellphone, it happens to your brain when she calls.

Re:Who do the police arrest?

[tmjr3353]

Well, if they thought it was some kind of bomb I'd hope they wouldn't be chucking a brick at it to be honest.

Re:loud and obnoxious

[Anonymous Coward]

I wonder if you can program the sound to be that of a dying giraffe.