New York State's attorney general has sent letters to the CEOs of the top five wireless network operators in the U.S. with questions about their failure to adopt anti-theft features in their phones. Law enforcement officials in New York and San Francisco are spearheading an effort to reduce phone-related crimes. Samsung developed a kill switch that would let smartphone owners brick their lost or stolen device remotely. San Francisco's district attorney saw emails between Samsung and the carriers that suggest the carriers didn't want to put kill switches in their phones because they fear it might cut into the profits they make from selling insurance programs. "If carriers are colluding to prevent theft-deterrent features from being preinstalled on devices as means to sell more insurance products, they are doing so at the expense of public safety and putting their customers in danger," said New York's attorney general. He alleges the top carriers all reached the decision to reject the kill switch at about the same time this year and wants to know if they spoke with one another, Asurion (phone insurance provider), or the CTIA Wireless Association about the matter. The CTIA has opposed the idea of kill switches. New York wants each carrier to explain the business rationale behind its decision and submit responses by December 31. According to The New York Times, thefts of the iPhone and iPad alone accounted for 14% of all crime in New York City last year.
via Phone Scoop - Latest News http://www.phonescoop.com/articles/article.php?a=13313
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