Better late than never: Now comes an essential security app for Palm OS 5 smartphone users that will send an SMS to a pre-defined number and lock the phone when a thief tries to install a different SIM card.

PhoneGuard

With its functions, PhoneGuard promises users help when their Treo or Centro is stolen.

The app can register up to five SIM cards in an "allowed list". If a thief inserts a different SIM card which is not in the "allowed list", PhoneGuard will send a SMS or lock the device or both.

Of course, the user will have to determine the destination phone number where your Treo or Centro will send the SMS alert. This SMS alert will contain the following info:

  • Service provider
  • IMSI number (SIM serial number)
  • Battery level
  • IMEI number (handset serial number)
  • Phone number
  • Base Station/Cellsite info
  • ICCID
  • Cell Info (including LAC and CID)

In sum, PhoneGuard will make you phone do the following once it is stolen and the thief tries to use it: send an SMS alert, lock the device, get coordinates of the phone and identify the new phone number used by the thief.

This works on Treos and Centros powered by Palm OS 5 (Garnet)