Nokia takes bullet for hijack victim
Anti-killer mobile app?
Posted in Mobile, 9th June 2004 12:41 GMT
A South African man has proved that yakking on your mobile while driving may not be the threat to road safety many claim it is. In fact, it could save your life.
André Steyn owes his current wellbeing to his mobile phone after the selfless device took a bullet for the merchant during an attempted hijack.
In early May, Steyn was travelling outside Johannesburg in a four-ton truck and trailer when a gang of would-be hijackers opened fire: "I heard a 'doof-doof' sound and one of my colleagues shouted 'they are shooting at us!' Alongside the truck was a bright red car with a man hanging out the window. I saw a flash and after the second shot I felt a pain in my hand," Steyn later recounted.
In fact, a bullet passed straight through Steyn's hand and would have done some serious damage to his temple had his mobile phone not intervened. Steyn then thwarted the hijack by forcing the attackers' car onto a roadside embankment, although they subsequently escaped.
Despite two bouts of surgery on his hand, Steyn is understandably full of praise for his departed mobile, noting: "At least I know who my angel is: it must be Nokia."
Steyn now packs a 6610i. The model of its bullet-proof predecessor is not noted. ®
Related stories
Mobile phones drive us mental: official
Nokia deploys 'wave messaging' mobile
Mobile phones are a pain in the neck
Extended Validation
Control Social Networking Use in Your Business
Gartner Report: US Data Centers - The Calm Before the Storm
The Perfect (Virtual) Marriage
Making Green IT a Reality

Netbooks and Mini-Laptops
Emails show journalist rigged Wikipedia's naked shorts
Yours truly, angry mob