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AT&T Unveiling New Blocking Service for Stolen Phones Next Week

charlituna said:
Trouble with that notion is that anything you can buy from said sources can be done with a computer and synced over. So blocking such access does nothing.
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All iOS apps have FairPlay DRM. Even if you managed to sync to the stolen iPhone, Apple could prevent the apps (and iTunes purchased TV shows, movies, books, etc) from running.

DRM actually working for the consumer, not the other way around.

We are already seeing new Find My iPhone features with iOS 6 where you can actually track your stolen device. I wouldn't surprised if some implementation of what I'm proposing comes with future OS releases.
 
Bad idea

This is just a way of selling more phones, and making more garbage. How is this in anyway going to stop phones from getting stolen? makes absolutely no sense. The thief could still use the phone on WiFi and make VOIP calls. I'm guessing I'm going to get a lot of stolen phones in the repair shop that I'll just use for parts since they'll never work again. What a waste of resources.
 
I read a post over at XDA who purchased a Tmo Galaxy S 3 on CL. He said that the phone was brand new and was working perfectly until a week ago when the phone didn't activate on the network. He claimed that he called Tmo and they informed him that the original owner stopped making bill payments so the phone had been blacklisted.

i've had my phone stolen before so hearing about this blocking service is nice but at the same time, i've purchased alot of phones on craigslist before too. Its a bit disheartening to realize that i won't be shopping for phones on CL too. It sucks because I bought multiple iphones for friends and family through CL.
 
jaw04005 said:
All iOS apps have FairPlay DRM. Even if you managed to sync to the stolen iPhone, Apple could prevent the apps (and iTunes purchased TV shows, movies, books, etc) from running.

.
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But only until you restore it and sync over stuff you bought on the computer with your own id.

The only way for such a notion to work would be to block it at a serial number type level. But that puts Apple back in the same policing and vetting place they are now. Not to mention the possible privacy issues that might be raised.

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/dev/toaster said:
Even if it was available, the police wouldn't use it most of the time. It is not worth the effort. For the most part they will only get charged with a misdemeanor possession of stolen property.

.
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Hell look at the Giz thing. They publicly admitted they paid a felony amount for a phone they knew didnt belong to the owner. And yet the DA didn't bother going through with a trial because they would have gotten a slap on the wrist. Not worth the cost.
 
andyx3x said:
Not if the phone is active on someone's account. Even if it's not, I doubt it.
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We told them it was stolen when it happened but your probably right. They'd probably then be more concerned with that new incoming revenue.
 
so is there a link or do we just call AT&T to report stolen iphone? and will they have record history of all the iphones on our account or we have to provide them with it?
 
Stolen iPhone becomes an iPod touch

This is already in effect in Canada between the major carriers.
You must call your carrier and have the IMEI number blocked from re-connection.

When my daughters had their phone ripped from their hands and stolen, the cops told us the street kids call the process "Apple picking".
As in let's go apple picking and steal some phones.

While the phone is rendered useless as iPhone, the sim card is pulled, making find my phone useless, the data is whipped and it is then sold for 25 bucks as an iPod touch since he wifi aspect continues to work.
 
Morally correct thing to do but wonder why waited so long?

I suspect Previous calculations said
A stolen phone without the block will result in new AT&T sale for the victim, and potential new AT&T subscriber (the thief)

The new calculation says new phone for Vic, but loss of possible new sub.

So they may be losing money, but doing the "right thing"
 
Treq said:
I imagine this will be used in some nasty divorces.
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Well, here in the US, the divorce degree should include language aimed at preventing spousal harassment. Any good divorce lawyer would have anticipated this tactic. In many states, spousal harassment warrants a restraining order. So, unless the offender wants a misdemeanor charge on his record he or she should move on. :)
 
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