A Dutch company has introduced a small downloadable program for mobile phones, called SimWatcher, which sends out an SMS message when someone steals a mobile phone and replaces the SIM card.

The software reveals the number of the person who stole the phone and will also display a message on the stolen phone, saying tha it belongs to someone else.

The software - a demo is available here (http://apps.javamania.nl/zip/simwatcherS60.zip) (instructions in Dutch) - costs €10 and is available for almost every type of GSM phone. The software can be installed by sending a message with an attachment or by WAP.

Some phone companies, including Vodafone, are already able to block a stolen cell phone by determining the mobile's International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI number, a 15 digit unqiue code which is entered into the network's central database. Once reported stolen, the handset will be immobilised and deactivated across every network. ®

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