Sprint offering wireless tracking devices

Mobile Internet, The, Nov, 2004

Sprint Corp. is coming out with a suite of services aimed at helping companies better manage the cellphones and PDAs they issue to employees, including a feature to remotely erase sensitive information from devices that are lost or stolen.

The "managed mobility" package will also help information technology departments in medium and large companies keep a better eye on the use of wireless devices and automatically upgrade their software without having to bring in the devices.

The program will also allow companies with several cellphones to purchase pools of minutes as opposed to having to monitor and pay for dozens of individual calling plans.

The company said it is testing the programs now and expects them to be available in the first quarter of 2005. Sprint officials said the product is aimed at in-house technology departments suddenly having to monitor the devices, especially ones that may contain confidential phone numbers or data.