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Cellular Repo Man

Posted by kdawson on from the new-low-for-crippleware dept.

LateNiteTV sends in news of a "kill pill" from LM Ericsson AB that a wireless carrier could use to remotely disable a subsidized netbook if the customer doesn't pay the monthly bill or cancels their credit card. "...the Swedish company that makes many of the modems that go into laptops announced Tuesday that its new modem will deal with [the nonpayment] issue by including a feature that's virtually a wireless repo man. If the carrier has the stomach to do so, it can send a signal that completely disables the computer, making it impossible to turn on. ... Laptop makers that use Ericsson modules include LG Electronics Inc., Dell Inc., Toshiba Corp., and Lenovo." The feature could also be used to lock thieves out of the data on a stolen laptop.

2 of 253 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Here's a better idea by c6gunner · · Score: 0, Troll

    Sucks to be you. You can get a decent ADSL line here for as low as $20 per month.

  2. Can't pay for your car? Ride a bicycle! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Folks:

    I am about to celebrate my 31st year without owning a car! That means no car payments!

    I survive using a bicycle and public transit.

    And before any of you whine, that also means that I commute 20 miles each way (40 miles per day) on a bicycle to and from work. That includes a 1,000 foot elevation hill each way.

    Yes. It can be done.

    And yes, it meant that I lost 45 pounds of fat, am trim, and look about 10 years younger than my age.

    And I have not called in sick at work for about 25 years!

    So, that means that if a car has an automatic kill modem in them, all it means is that the owner might as well start getting healthy and ride a bicycle instead!

    Luv

    Cleara