Google Confirms Antitheft Kill Switch For Next Android Version

Finally, the kind of innovation we have all been looking forward to for quite some time. According to reports, Google has confirmed that it will integrate the kill-switch technology into its mobile operating systems in an upcoming update.

While the new kill-switch is a welcome addition to curb the number of mobile phone thefts around the planet, Google is yet to provide a timeline for the new update. However, the update is expected to arrive at the I/O developer conference next week.

Previous to this, with the growing number of theft incidents involving a smartphone, federal and state legislators in the US have been asking for mandatory kill-switches that would then render the stolen devices useless. And that would kill the value of the device, if not anything else.

Google is now set to update ADM to include a kill-switch in its next version of Android. For the record, Google already has a built-in security app in its Android Device Manager. This allows users to locate their device on a map, ring it remotely and even erase data in case the device has been nabbed.

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The New York State Attorney General has also recently released a review of its Secure Our Smartphone (S.O.S.) initiative, in an attempt to cut down on mobile device theft. The report stated that the number of stolen devices went down after Apple added its Activation Lock security feature to iOS 7.

Furthermore, the report had also revealed that Microsoft and Google would add kill-switch tech to their devices before the industry deadline.

"Microsoft confirms it will incorporate a kill switch-type theft-deterrence solution in the next release of its Windows Phone operating system, which will run on all Nokia smartphones," the report said.

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"Google confirms it will incorporate a kill switch-type theft-deterrence solution in its next version of the Android operating system, the most popular mobile operating system worldwide."

It is also important to note in this context that the kill-switch feature, even if engaged, will probably not render the phone permanently unusable. Owners will still be able to restore its functionality in case they recover the device.