Researchers from Germany demonstrated several techniques at the CanSecWest conference. The technique relies on setting up a GSM network and sending specially crafted SMS messages to handsets. The researchers only tested their methods on so-called feature phones, not smartphones such as Android devices or iPhones. The messages they sent included a binary payload and in at least one case, they were able to completely brick one of the Sony Ericsson phones. In general, the malicious messages weren t visible to the user.
Source: https://threatpost.com/cansecwest-researchers-show-method-disabling-phones-sms-030911/75012/