Installing a kill switch in mobile phones could...

Installing a kill switch in mobile phones could save consumers up to $3.4 billion annually, concludes research from Creighton University professor William Duckworth released Tuesday. The kill switch would also kill a growing market for stolen smartphones, the report said. “Over the last few months, it has become very clear that Americans want the Kill Switch on their phones,” Duckworth said in a news release (http://bit.ly/1xvHxcw). “I believe an industry-wide implementation of the technology could significantly improve public safety and save consumers billions of dollars a year.” A bill by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., S-2032, the Smartphone Theft Prevention Act, would require the installation of a kill switch on mobile phones (CD Feb 26 p11). Jamie Hastings, CTIA vice president-external and state affairs, said CTIA cannot comment on the veracity of the study. “The wireless industry has already provided numerous anti-theft solutions, many for free, to consumers and they will continue to do so,” she said. “This is being done because the wireless industry is committed to providing tools to law enforcement to safeguard its consumers, their devices and their personal information.” CTIA noted that the wireless industry has created a stolen phone database, though only the FBI, New York City and Las Vegas have signed up for it to date.