Google has transformed the website-based phone tracking service, Android Device Manager, into a mobile application that can be installed on a phone to protect data and locate lost phones.
Google followed Apple's lead in offering a mobile tracking service of its own to help users locate and reset PIN and wipe data on a lost phone. Initially, the web giant launched the service in a website based form in August, but has revised its tracking software into a fully fledged Android app. The Android version of the "Find my iPhone" app works no different than its previous web-based version.
The Android Device Manager app appears on the Google Play Store letting users manage the security levels on the phone similar to Apple's app. Apple has offered the service and app for all its devices including iPhones, iPads, iPods and Macs to help locate and control phones remotely.
According to the app's description, the "Android Device Manager locates lost devices and helps you keep your device-and the data inside it-safe and secure." Users must connect their Android devices with the Google account for the app to locate its position on Google Maps. Users can also reset the security PIN on the device and erase all data on the phone. Like the online Device Manager, the mobile app triggers the phone's ringer in the maximum volume, even if the phone is on silent or vibrate mode
The app form of the service doesn't come as a surprise as Google had revealed its plans to eventually come up with a standalone app for the phones running Android 2.2 and higher.
Users can locate an additional device using the phone app, as long as the device is connected with a Google account and has the data turned on. Google lets users trigger an alarm and set up lock and erase data using the second smartphone. This functionality is useful when users have no immediate access to a laptop but have an additional smartphone handy. In order to use the "Set up lock and Erase" function, users must enable the remote setting, which can be done by following these steps.
Download the Android Device Manager Companion app from Google Play Store for free and protect your phone and private data on it.
