Manufacturers are already deploying anti-theft tools for mobile devices. CTIA-The Wireless Association declined to provide an opposing view. Excerpts from a handout the trade group distributed when California legislators considered a bill to require that all new phones carry kill-switch technology to render them inoperable if stolen: The U.S. technology industries have the safety and security of their customers as a top priority. On April 15, wireless carriers, device manufacturers and operating-system providers agreed to a sweeping new national commitment to provide anti-theft tools at no cost to consumers. This anti-theft technology commitment will be deployed in all 50 states as yet another industry tool to help deter smartphone theft. OUR VIEW: California finds a cure for smartphone theft epidemic Manufacturers are already deploying anti-theft tools. Accordingly, (the kill-switch bill) isnt needed, will not deter smartphone thefts compared with the wireless industrys comprehensive holistic approach, and will create problems for consumers and companies. There is no single solution to smartphone theft. A multilayered comprehensive approach — using the industrys anti-theft technological commitment, the global stolen-phones database, consumer education and international partnerships — is the superior approach. A state-level technology mandate … will virtually always lead to negative unintended consequences. The prescriptive and muddled technical requirements ... will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for some manufacturers to meet. (The California law): • Will stifle innovation in security, which is a top priority for consumers and the wireless industry. • Will negatively impact a users ability to connect with emergency services. • Allows phones sold in the secondary market to be excluded from the kill-switch requirement, ultimately undermining the purported theft deterrent by allowing an aftermarket for non-compliant stolen phones. It is also ironic and very disappointing that (California) — the very state that is the crucible of wireless technology and technology innovation generally — would presume to know better than some of the worlds most iconic companies and mandate a state-only technology that is unnecessary, inconsistent, ambiguous, arbitrary and counterproductive.
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 23:15:33 +0000
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