Mobile

Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung and carriers back anti-theft measures for smartphones

Ina Fried
WATCH LIVE
Nathan Alliard | Photononstop | Getty Images

With several states and municipalities considering various mandatory "kill-switch" laws for mobile devices, the wireless industry announced a voluntary commitment to include new anti-theft technology on phones starting next year.

The commitment, announced Tuesday, has the backing of the five largest U.S. cellular carriers as well as the key players in the smartphone device and operating system markets, a list that includes Apple, Google, HTC, Huawei, Motorola, Microsoft, Nokia and Samsung.

Those signing the pledge agree that devices going on sale after July 2015 will have the ability to remotely wipe data and be rendered inoperable, if the user chooses, to prevent the device from being reactivated without the owner's permission. Lost or stolen devices could later be restored if recovered. The carriers also agreed they would facilitate these measures.

An employee walks over a logo at an Amazon.com fulfillment center.
Amazon to introduce smartphone for fall release: WSJ

Re/code has the story.

By Ina Fried, Re/code.net.

CNBC's parent NBC Universal is an investor in Re/code's parent Revere Digital, and the companies have a content-sharing arrangement.