Android is catching with Windows phone and iOS in helping users find their lost devices.
According to the Android blog, later this month, you will be able to use a new service called Android Device Manager, which can quickly ring your phone at maximum volume so you can find it (even if it’s been silenced), or locate it on a map, in real time, using Android Device Manager.
Android phone vendors have previously attempted to implement the feature by themselves and these include HTC which was unfortunately shutdown, Sony, with the My Xperia program that it announced earlier this year and Samsung .
If your phone can’t be recovered, or has been stolen, you can quickly and securely erase all of the data on your device to keep your data from ending up in the wrong hands. The Android Device Manager will be available for devices running Android 2.2 and above, as part of Google Play.
I’ve personally lost an Android device that i could not track because of Google’s sluggishness on bringing the feature to Android phones. Onyait Odeke, one of our Editors here is another Android die-hard who’s been wishing for the feature to come to the OS. Much as Android is late to the party, it’s better later than never.
I am glad they finally woke up but because they are late, I expect nothing short of the best “Phone Finder” These are some of the things I expect:
Switch data/GPS On/Off
Take photos of person holding via Front & Back Camera
Remotely lock your device
Display a custom message on the screen
Use SMS triggers to activate lost mode
Remotely wipe your device to erase your personal data on phone/SD card
Locate your Phone on a Google Maps
Obtain Driving/Walking directions to device location,
Locate and Ring your Misplaced Device/Even when in silent
Battery charge indicator
Detect/Prevent SIM changes and report new Sim card and Network info
Prevent Switching Off of Phone