In today’s market there are a ton of “find my phone” apps available for you to choose from. However, what happens when you lose your device and you haven’t installed an app yet? Plan B, by Plan B Labs wants to be there for you. I know it sounds weird at the moment, but believe me, there is a method to the madness. Yep, that’s right, you don’t download Plan B until after your device has been lost or stolen. Once your device has veered off the beaten path unbeknown to you, just head on over to the online Android Market and download the app by pushing it to your device. Once you push the app to your phone, Plan B kicks in, utilizing the nearest cell tower and activates your GPS, sending the device’s current location directly to your Gmail inbox. Convenient enough for you? The developer notes that if the app doesn’t initially kick in, all one has to do is borrow a friends phone and text the word “locate” to your device. Also, per the developer, your location will continue to update for 10 minutes, shooting you an email with each update. If you still haven’t found the device just repeat the process until you do.
It’s nice to finally have some hope, after your several hundred dollar investment gets unexpectedly snatched from you. I can’t help but appreciate modern advances with what Google and Android are doing. I mean, where would this app be if Google didn’t implement the new push technology in the online market? And who can deny the fact that if this was just a few years ago, our devices would have been lost for good since we’ve never heard of a phone’s GPS system being activated remotely? Ahh, modern technology is great for consumers and hardly fair for thieves. I just feel bad for the phone thief who one day jacks Anderson Silva’s Droid after he installs Plan B. Once you’re reunited with your trusty handheld, don’t forget to download Lookout, a trusty application that can assist in cleaning up your device and ridding it of any viruses or Malware. If you don’t feel like waiting until your device is stolen, no problem, you can download Plan B from our apps database here. Don’t forget to let us know what you think in the comments below.
From the developer:
Technical Details
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* The location email messages are sent via SMS, so they are short and to the point.
* You’ll get one email message when Plan B starts, and up to 5 other messages as it refines your phone’s location or tracks it as it moves.
* Each location email will include an accuracy rating in meters.
* Plan B will attempt to launch as soon as it downloads, but in some cases you will need to send an SMS to get it started.
* Note that your location is only sent to the Gmail address that is already associated with your phone; nobody else can access your location using Plan B.
* Plan B is currently only available on select carriers in the United States.
About Lookout Labs
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This is a project of the Labs division of Lookout Mobile Security. The goal of Lookout Labs is to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of mobile apps. Labs projects are experimental by nature, and may only be available for a limited time.
This app is not a replacement for Lookout Mobile Security. Downloading the full version of Lookout is the best way to keep your phone safe from malware and spyware, back up your data, and locate, scream, lock, or wipe a lost or stolen phone