Major tech companies, Apple, Google, Samsung, Microsoft, HTC and others have agreed on common grounds to add anti-theft "kill switch" to their handsets from July 2015.
Kill Switch integration into smartphones just got a powerful army of tech giants backing the campaign to reduce mobile thefts. Key players in the smartphone industry have signed an agreement all mobile devices will let users wipe data and brick their handsets remotely, starting July 2015. The updated list includes some of the biggest names of the smartphone industry, including Apple, Samsung, Google, Microsoft, Nokia, Huawei, HTC and Motorola.
The proposal of integrating the so-called "kill switch" was originally launched as a part of 'Secure Our Smartphones' initiative launched nearly a year ago. As the advantages of the proposed addition have widely been reported to save consumers the cost of insurances, carriers have constantly disapproved such an implementation. With new entries adding up to the kill-switch campaign, the carriers are slowly losing ground on convincing otherwise.
"The wireless industry today has taken an incremental yet inadequate step to address the epidemic of smartphone theft," California state Sen. Mark Leno, who proposed a mandatory kill-switch law, said in a statement, according to Re/code. "Only weeks ago, they claimed that the approach they are taking today was infeasible and counterproductive. While I am encouraged they are moving off of that position so quickly, today's 'opt-in' proposal misses the mark if the ultimate goal is to combat street crime and violent thefts involving smartphones and tablets."
Adding a kill-switch to the future smartphone will help consumers in many ways. According to a detailed report by the CTIA Wireless Association, users will have complete control over their lost handsets by remotely wiping any personal info such as photos, contacts, emails among other things. The kill switch will also brick the handset, making it inoperable for others. The device will also be restricted from being reactivated without owner's permission and the complete restoration of the handset will be done once recovered.
Apple and Samsung joining the campaign is not much of a surprise, as both companies have shown their interest towards mobile security. Samsung introduced advanced anti-theft security features in its flagship Galaxy S5 that helps its owners locate device, trigger alerts, wipe data and set up security login even after a device reset. But Apple has implemented its mobile security features on a broader level. The Cupertino added a new feature called "Activation Lock" in its iOS7 OS, which is designed to make it tougher for thieves to use stolen iOS devices. It supports functions such as locate, lock and wipe data from stolen iOS7 devices.
According to Re/code, carriers have also agreed to facilitate the changes, which means the new security add-on will be seen across board next year.
