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UK Firm To Release 'Screaming' Cell Phone

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the can-you-hear-me-now dept.

rubberbando writes "Yahoo news is running a story about a plan by a UK cell phone company to help reduce cell theft. Apparently, this new cell phone can be sent a signal after its owner has realized that it has been lost or stolen. The signal tells the phone to wipe all of its data and begin emitting a very loud and obnoxious sound. The sound will only stop if the battery runs out or is removed, but it will begin again as soon as the battery is replaced or charged. Even replacing the sim card will not help."

16 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. loud and obnoxious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    And I thought cell phones were already loud and obnoxious...

    1. Re:loud and obnoxious by Null+Perception · · Score: 3, Funny

      No, its just the people that use them

      --
      Great new book on Evolution: The Greatest Show on Earth by Richard Dawkins
    2. Re:loud and obnoxious by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      I wonder if you can program the sound to be that of a dying giraffe.

  2. Another deep thought... by mctk · · Score: 3, Funny

    If cell phones could scream, would we be so cavalier about smashing them on the ground? We might, if they screamed all the time for no good reason.

    --
    Paul Grosfield - the quicker picker upper.
  3. i can only wait by macadamia_harold · · Score: 4, Funny

    The signal tell the phone to wipe all of its data and begin emitting a very loud and obnoxious sound.

    Isn't this what happens if Paris Hilton calls you?

    --
    Push Button, Receive Bacon
    1. Re:i can only wait by banuk · · Score: 2, Funny

      Isn't this what happens if Paris Hilton calls you?

      You're wrong, it doesnt happen to your cellphone, it happens to your brain when she calls.

  4. As Hammurabi said, a blown-up face for a phone. by CosmeticLobotamy · · Score: 4, Funny

    "We also then set a small bomb off, if you like, that completely wipes the data...

    As well as the ear and most of the face of the thief? Seems a little harsh.

    1. Re:As Hammurabi said, a blown-up face for a phone. by ricky-road-flats · · Score: 4, Funny
      As well as the ear and most of the face of the thief? Seems a little harsh.
      /insert standard Sony laptop battery joke here/

      Actually it reminded me of something I was talking about just yesterday, a funny scene from the BBC series from the 1980s, 'The New Statesman'. The main star (Rik Mayall) is held up at knifepoint, and quickly hands over his wallet when it's demanded. The theif runs off, at which point the star smiles, pulls out a little remote from his breast pocket, flips a switch and presses the red button. You hear an explosion and a scream in the distance. Great stuff!

  5. It makes me think of... by d3m0nCr4t · · Score: 3, Funny

    Screaming Jay Hawkins... "I put a spell on you, cause you're mine."

  6. Who do the police arrest? by badfish99 · · Score: 4, Funny

    So someone stole a phone, and now it is making a very loud unpleasant noise. So they have dumped it near my house and it is still making the noice and I am very annoyed. So I hit it with a brick until it stops.

    Question: who gets taken to court? The phone manufacturer, for creating a noise nuisance? Or the thief, for stealing the phone? Or me, for damaging someone else's property?

    I know the answer: it will be me, won't it?

    1. Re:Who do the police arrest? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      The brick manufacturer for making an unsafe product.

    2. Re:Who do the police arrest? by tmjr3353 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Well, if they thought it was some kind of bomb I'd hope they wouldn't be chucking a brick at it to be honest.

  7. Too late! by Toreo+asesino · · Score: 3, Funny

    This isn't innovation! Anyone that lives in the UK will know that not only was this done yonks ago, but it even made it into the Top of the Pops when it came out.

    --
    throw new NoSignatureException();
  8. The obvious next step by Gerocrack · · Score: 2, Funny

    Screaming not annoying enough for you? The next version will randomly spew a stream of urine.

  9. Re:New terrorist weapon... by z0idberg · · Score: 2, Funny

    The Dept. of Homeland Security called.

    They want their paranoia back.

  10. awesome! by commodoresloat · · Score: 4, Funny
    First and foremost, you must write down your IMEI number. Simply type *#06# into your cell phone. It may look like: AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D . That is the serial number of the phone, and it will not change if the SIM is changed. Write it down into a safe place.

    Excellent! I am writing the number down right now in the memo pad application on my cell phone!