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You are here: MacNN Forums > Hardware - Troubleshooting and Discussion > iPhone, iPad & iPod > Good news: Carriers agree to disable stolen phones for good

Good news: Carriers agree to disable stolen phones for good
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amazing
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Apr 10, 2012, 12:55 PM
 
Carriers agree to disable stolen phones for good - CBS News

Once this gets widely publicized and implemented, the chances of getting mugged on the street or subway for your iPhone will go way down. You may get robbed for your wallet but it won't be worth stealing your iPhone because it will have no value.

This has been successfully implemented for years in Australia. People no longer get mugged for their phones. The only time robbers steal phones is when they don't want you calling the police right away about the other stuff they've stolen. They want time to escape.
     
turtle777
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Apr 10, 2012, 01:01 PM
 
Not bad. For the first time, Chuck might actually push something that I can support.

-t
     
The Godfather
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Apr 10, 2012, 11:00 PM
 
As long as they don't have the nerve of tacking another fee to the already stratospheric wireless bill. This would easily become $3.99/month, or $96 over the length of a contract.
     
amazing  (op)
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Apr 11, 2012, 01:07 PM
 
Originally Posted by The Godfather View Post
As long as they don't have the nerve of tacking another fee to the already stratospheric wireless bill. This would easily become $3.99/month, or $96 over the length of a contract.
Well, not yet.

Both ATT and Verizon have been hiking fees:

Verison is instituting a $30 upgrade fee (when you upgrade to a subsidized phone). "Spokeswoman Brenda Raney claimed the fee was needed to keep providing "level of service and support they have come to expect."

Verizon to 'compete' with AT&T by adding $30 upgrade fee | Electronista

"The hike follows just two months after AT&T doubled upgrade fees and puts Verizon's new fee just $6 lower than that of its main challenger."
     
The Godfather
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Apr 15, 2012, 03:43 PM
 
Now that AT&T'ers are unlocking their iPhones, is it even technologically feasible that stolen iDevices are effectively bricked outside AT&T's radius of operation?

<insert joke of AT&T milimetric radius of operation here>
     
amazing  (op)
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Apr 21, 2012, 03:18 PM
 
iPhone theft has gotten so bad that NYPD cops are using decoy bags with iPhones (undercover cops).

Even worse, getting killed where only the iPhone is stolen, murderer didn't even look for a wallet:

IPhone and iPad thefts on the rise: NYPD - NY Daily News

I'm thinking of using black headphones instead of the signature Apple headphones.
     
Nergol
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Apr 21, 2012, 04:26 PM
 
Originally Posted by amazing View Post
iPhone theft has gotten so bad that NYPD cops are using decoy bags with iPhones (undercover cops).

Even worse, getting killed where only the iPhone is stolen, murderer didn't even look for a wallet:

IPhone and iPad thefts on the rise: NYPD - NY Daily News

I'm thinking of using black headphones instead of the signature Apple headphones.
Good. The Apple earbuds are garbage anyway. A set of decent replacements - Sony's EX-51s and EX-71s are pretty good - can be had for cheap. Use those instead.
     
The Godfather
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Apr 25, 2012, 01:43 PM
 
Proactive worried consumers do this:
1. Engrave or chem-etch their iPhone in your local fablab or hackerspace. If you tattoo your body why not your phone
2. Make a custom 30pin connector and switch pins in your iPhones dock connector so that only you can charge it
3. Use a pocket clock chain. It could be fashionable again
4. Activate find my iPhone and test it regularly
5. Absolutely do not gift one to your child
6. Lick it in front of the mugger so that he/she will not take it.
     
amazing  (op)
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Apr 25, 2012, 02:03 PM
 
Mostly it's that many people don't seem to have any street smarts: like leaving their bags open on the subway, or falling asleep on the subway, stuff like that.

But when a popular item like an iPhone is known to be readily salable, is known to be a ready source of cash, you can all of a sudden be in a huge amount of danger.

Now, this initiative needs to be implemented and publicized all over the place
     
The Godfather
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May 5, 2012, 12:15 AM
 
ATT's solution is a half baked webpage with broken links, and no way to check whether a phone is in the database, nor a promise that it will be disabled.
AT&T Launches New Stolen Phone Website - To Help People Forget They've Often Done Little About Stolen Phones | DSLReports.com, ISP Information
Diagnosis: it is a smokescreen to get the lawsuit to go away. A disabled iPhone is worth $80 a month or more to them. Why would they really disable them?

Just personalize your iPhone and it will be less likely to be resold.
     
amazing  (op)
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May 5, 2012, 11:21 AM
 
Yeah, I suppose anyone could've predicted that the effort would either be poorly implemented or sabotaged...

Early days, yet, so here's hoping that the pressure stays around to keep pushing the issue.
     
amazing  (op)
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May 5, 2012, 12:40 PM
 
meantime, iphone thefts are up 44 percent this year in NYC--and that's just NYC alone. Bloomberg doesn't seem to be concerned?

Violent iPhone Theft Isn't Really A Concern For Billionaire Bloomberg: Gothamist

And yes, people don't have any street smarts...but in Australia, smartphone theft is down because of the successful implementation of a phone-theft database (and Australia has implemented this for years...)
     
Spheric Harlot
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May 5, 2012, 01:05 PM
 
Considering that iPhone SALES are up over 100%...

What about phone theft/robbery in general?
     
amazing  (op)
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May 5, 2012, 01:41 PM
 
Some stolen popular smartphones (namely iPhones) are undoubtedly worth more than others--and also easier to sell.
     
   
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