What Happens When RIM's Beta Testers Lose The Devices

ZDNet AU has an interview with RIM (NSDQ: RIMM) chief information officer Robin Bienfait, mostly about the fact that the company records all forms of telecommunications for its employees so it doesn’t lose any intellectual property opportunities. But there was also an interesting comment about the extent RIM goes to to stop its new products from winding up in the wrong hands if they’re lost. “Generally, employees were quick to say when their devices had been lost in a taxi,” she said. “Our people are really, really good. They know their obligations as a beta tester.” In such cases, RIM would wipe the device immediately, so that it become just a piece of naked hardware. “I can’t melt it from the sky yet — I would like that,” Bienfait said. I’m sure RIM isn’t alone in this level of protection, but I’m surprised it hasn’t incorporated some sort of auto-disable feature (that would prevent the device from being copied or reverse engineered) for situations like this.

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