Sony Ericsson and Intel Developing Theft Protection for Mobile Broadband Notebooks

Sony is now involving itself in the more human side of the problems users experience, namely the loss or theft of mobile broadband notebooks. Such actions are implemented in order to try to prevent events like the loss of the notebook from occurring, and to discourage such crimes as the theft of the device in question.

This initiative comes as Sony has observed that the previously noted acts have devastating consequences on the users themselves, as well as on their employers. As a result, a partnership with Intel was born, which is meant to ensure that Ericsson's Mobile Broadband Modules are interoperable with Intel's Anti Theft PC Protection technology for notebooks.

This technology is going to work as a notebook management program when it comes to the loss or the theft of such a device. The technology can be regarded as a self-aware one, since it will come with certain features that should recognize if the device it protects has been lost or stolen. Should such events take place, Intel's anti-theft technology is programmed to lock the device. Also, if repeated login failures are registered or other such “criminal” events occur, the notebook locks itself and becomes inoperable. The blockage is actually quite safe and highly difficult to override since it blocks the actual boot process, thus rendering the device completely useless.

Furthermore, the theft management service in the network sends messages to the broadband module, which then forwards it to Intel's anti theft function, which again turns the notebook into a useless device. The advantage here is thatm once the device has been recovered, an unlocking message can be sent by the network, thus reinstating the notebook to its full capabilities.

Mats Norin, vice president and head of Mobile Broadband Modules at Ericsson, declared regarding this collaboration that, "We share a common vision with Intel about offering consumers and enterprise users a secure mobile broadband experience for their notebooks. We are committed to work with industry leaders to shape a complete, end-to-end solution to drive increased mobile broadband adoption."

George Thangadurai, director of Intel's Strategy and Platform Planning Group, and general manager of the company's Anti-Theft Program, also explained the benefits of such a technology, saying, "We have entered a new era for security for the on-the-go businessperson in which losing a notebook or having it stolen can have disastrous implications. [...] Intel's Anti-Theft PC Protection technology takes notebook security to a new level, making notebook theft for profit an exercise in futility and with third-party software help secure data. By teaming with Ericsson, we are extending the benefits of Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection to those who use mobile broadband networks."