NEW NOKIA MOBILE PHONE PATENT

Nokia files patent for smart phone that can nab kidnappers

A smart mobile phone that pretends to be off even while it transmits alerts, GPS co-ordinates and captures and transmits pictures and video form Nokia. We suggest test-marketing this in kidnapper-infested Bihar.

OUR TECH CORRESPONDENT

19 January 2006
MUMBAI, INDIA

Kidnappers beware, Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia has filed a patent for a smart camera cell phone which could land them up in deep trouble.

A patent? Yes, not a true phone in the market yet. We hate to see the disappointed faces of all the sufferers in the badlands of the world. But at some point this may be introduced, and we can think about a couple of states in India where such a kidnap-prevention phone could come in really, really handy.

The mobile phone has emergency alerts, pictures, sound and Global Positioning System (GPS) location, even while it pretends to be off!

The recessed panic button of the Nokia smart cell phone can trigger an emergency message when pressed. The smart phone then embarks on a series of snapshots or video clips to either a service centre or aide. This comes along with any sound picked up by the microphone.

If equipped with a global positioning system receiver, the Nokia phone can also stamp the message with location.

In the worst case scenario, that is if the reception fails, the phone stores images and audio in memory and automatically transmits them as soon as the signal is back.

The abductor/abductors cannot even know that the transmission has happened as it appears that the phone has been switched off.

And if the trigger is pressed, it can’t be put off unless a personal code is entered. This is to ensure that false alarms are averted.

Nokia has not mentioned it in the patent applied by the company, but going by media reports Nokia definitely wants to spring a surprise with its smart cell phone on kidnappers.

Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone maker, sold more than 10 million phones with music players in 2004 alone. And with the smart phone, Nokia sales should reach new peaks.