RIM has announced to open BlackBerry Protect Beta service to public which was previously available only to BlackBerry Beta Zone members only. For those who don t know, BlackBerry Protect is RIM s web-based service meant to track down a lost device and also protect data. This service is pretty similar to Apple Find My iPhone and Microsoft My Phone services.
What are the key features of BlackBerry Protect?
BlackBerry Protect allows you the ability to wirelessly backup, restore and locate your BlackBerry® smartphone. In the event that your BlackBerry smartphone is misplaced, lost or stolen, BlackBerry Protect provides features like: remote device wipe, remote device lock, ‘Lost and Found’ screen, locate device on a map, remote activation of the BlackBerry smartphone loud ringer, and wireless device backup and restore.
BlackBerry Protect Setup
First, the user would need to download and install the BlackBerry Protect app on their BlackBerry smartphone. After completing the initial registration, you’ll be given the option to backup the data on your BlackBerry smartphone. You will be able to decide what you want to back up – contacts, calendar, memos, tasks, browser bookmarks, and/or text messages. You will even be able to choose how often your BlackBerry smartphone is automatically backed up (i.e. daily, weekly, and monthly). Also, once the first back up is completed, only incremental data is backed up (i.e. new data since the last backup) to reduce data usage. Remember to always check with your wireless service provider to determine any additional charges that may be incurred through your use of the wireless network.
In the event that you do lose your BlackBerry, you can use that website to find the exact location of your phone on a map, or get it to ring if it is still somewhere nearby. If finding the phone seems to be a lost cause, you can remotely wipe all of its contents without worrying about losing all of your data; the app can be set to back up data on a recurring basis. This useful little safety net is available now for free from BlackBerry App World.
