Google is planning to add a kill switch option to the next version of Android according to reports. The feature lets users safeguard their smartphones owing to thefts. It enables users with stolen devices to report their device as missing and disable it from being used without specific credentials in an incident of theft. Microsoft is also joining Google to add the kill switch option to Windows Phone. Both the companies have signed an agreement with the New York Attorney General for the same.
Google already provides Android Device Manager which provides users with the option to remotely wipe or lock their stolen devices. It also is capable of tracking the phones’ location – for which the GPS needs to be switched on. Hence, it is not clear, whether Google will add the new security feature into the Android Device Manager or launch a completely new protection layer.
Apple already has the kill switch option for the iPhone that was announce in September last year and the New York City Attorney General cited that there was a 19% decrease in iPhone thefts ever since the feature was implemented; whereas Samsung phones that still didn’t carry the feature experienced a 40% increase in robberies.
It is expected that Google might make some announcement regarding the same along with few other launches at the upcoming I/O conference next week.
Source: Microsoft, PC World, Bloomberg