Last week at the Mobile World Congress, many vendors launched their new Windows Phones and one amongst them was HTC which launched two new models - HTC Touch Pro2 and HTC Touch Diamond2. A HTC prototype Windows Phone loaded with Windows Mobile 6.5 was pick-pocketed from an executive's pocket during an evening function at the Mobile World Congress.The stolen Windows Phone is believed to be either a HTC Touch Pro2 or HTC Touch Diamond2 and was given by Microsoft to Telstra's CEO Sol Trujillo to try and test the new Windows Mobile OS. Sol handed it to an unnamed executive who was then pick-pocketed.
APC Magazine has confirmed from its sources close to Microsoft that the entire operating system and all the user data on the handset were remotely erased from the phone as soon as the theft was reported.
It is not sure whether this theft was aimed at Sol's private data or getting hands on with the new beta version of Windows Mobile 6.5 and the new HTC Windows Phone. However, Windows Mobile users should be happy that a remote cleanup of the OS did save the day (if the pickpocket had not taken any backup in the meantime)
It always becomes necessary to back up our phone data and be prepared for situations like this. Its a good coincidence that Microsoft also released My Phone, a service to sync text messages, photos, video, contacts and more to the Web, at the Mobile World Congress.
If there's something on your phone that Microsoft doesn't like it might mysteriously have gone missing one day.
Industrial espionage might make a better plot for the theft, but let's not forget that petty theft is MUCH more common than these movie-plot scenarios
The ROM went, too.
A look over on the [< snipped > - CalumJR] firstly show several 6.5 ROMS. Unknown as to them as some was already leaked before the above forementioned theft.
The clincher in my eyes thou is the new TouchFLO software on the new Touch2 phones. It has already been leaked and is currently being ported for the standard Diamonds.
Either it was leaked internally from HTC due to it not being officially out on any phones yet, or it is from the stolen one.
Last edited by CalumJR on 23 Feb 2009 - 11:46
Just sending you a private message now. Unfortunately I was too busy to send it earlier.
Also one serious question is why the hell MS has access to the phone remotely?
Last edited by bob21 on 23 Feb 2009 - 12:33
Exchange only wipes the users specific data. It sounds like Microsoft was able to wipe the entire phone, OS and all.
Last edited by CalumJR on 23 Feb 2009 - 15:38
yeah its even found its way onto the kaiser, Says a lot about the system requirements of 6.5 when a phone from 2007 can run it without resembling vista on a 486
It's actually so easy to do, the user has the ability to do it from their Outlook Web Access control panel.
(that is from MY mailbo
Last edited by Marshalus on 23 Feb 2009 - 15:01
You would have to pair your phone with a remote wipe capable Exchange Server and then you (or your network admin) can initiate the remote wipe.
In Outlook Web Access running on an Exchange 2007 server you can initiate the wipe yourslef or an admin can do it from the management console...
That puts the control in your hands and your company's hands not Microsoft's or anyone elses. A HUGE difference from the stuff Apple was trying as Apple had that power...
Don't want anyone capable of remote whiping your phone? Don't pair it with an Exchange server
If a remote wipe were available, it should be the owner who could do it, NOT the carrier without approval of the wireless phone owner.
I've done it with a phone here. Got a demo phone whcih I synced to our exchange server, phone broke and I couldn;'t turn it back on to wipe it, so I set it to remote wipe next time it connected to our exchange server and it worked a treat.
AFAIK it you can't do the whole OS with it unless MS have their own thing. Mine would only do contacts/calendar/mail etc that is synced with exchange.
http://www.bak2u.com/phonebakpdaphone.php
Which would achieve what is described here. It is highly likely for a prototype phone or a phone with senstitive data that this software could have easily been loaded on as such a backup method.
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