WaveSecure software to go commercial soon

We first talked about tenCube's security software, WaveSecure, over a year back. Since then, the Singapore-based startup has been hard at work refining its user interface and collaborating with handset manufacturers and mobile operators. Following its recent deal with Nokia in India to bundle the software in the N96 mobile phone, tenCube has also said it will be making the service commercially available by the end of the year. This will cost users about US$2 a month if they register directly on the official Web site, though some operators may offer it as a bundle and include it as a value-added service charge on subscribers' bills. We gave the pre-release version a quick trial just to see how ready it is for prime time.

The main menu as seen on the Series60 version of WaveSecure.

Since its initial announcement, the purpose of WaveSecure has remained consistent--to protect users' data from prying eyes when their phones have been stolen or found by a stranger. The basic features as provided by the initial beta software have remained. When you find that your phone is missing or stolen, you can go online to a Web-based interface to lock your phone if it is on the cellular network--that is, if a valid SIM card has been placed in the phone.

Aside from locking the phone, the software also allows remote wiping of data and even instructs the handset to emit a loud piercing alarm (blood-curdling voice of a screaming woman) to scare the thief. We don't recommend using that last feature though, as the finder/stealer of the phone will most likely throw the handset into an incinerator or a river and you'll never get it back.

What tenCube has refined mostly are the backup features of the software. This ensures that in the event you do lose your phone, there's at least a copy of your pictures, text messages, calendar and contacts online. Granted, most smart phones are able to sync with desktop computers to back up all of that content but it's something many users neglect to do. Taking the task online also saves the hassle of having to install software and lets you back up on a whim, whether or not you have access to your desktop computer.