The FCC and CTIA Wireless Association announced a three-part plan to help prevent smartphone theft and protect consumers’ personal data. The plan includes creating a nationwide database of smartphones that catalogs every single IMEI number currently in use and then uses the number to remotely deactivate smartphones when they are reported stolen. Carriers are also planning to educate consumers about mobile applications they can download onto their devices that give them the ability to remotely lock, locate or wipe data from their smartphone if it gets stolen. The carriers plan to fully enact both of these initiatives by spring 2013.”]
Source: https://www.csoonline.com/article/2131497/federal-effort-under-way-to-deter-smartphone-thieves.html