Yesterday, CTIA® announced a Request For Proposal (RFP) to create and operate the Mobile Device Information Portal based on the Mobile Device Theft Prevention (MDTP) Working Group’s recommendations to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Technological Advisory Council (TAC).

Using multiple source databases, the Mobile Device Information Portal will provide timely, succinct responses so that consumers and commercial resellers know if a mobile device is reported lost or stolen before they purchase it. In addition, law enforcement will be able to check, and hopefully return, found mobile devices to their authorized users.

By creating a central portal of reported lost and stolen mobile devices, it will help limit the black market resale of these used mobile devices in the United States.

CTIA, on behalf of its member companies and in consultation with the FCC, works with mobile device vendors, network service providers and law enforcement agencies to combat mobile device theft in a variety of ways including consumer education, anti-theft device features, standards organization development efforts and information sharing. The Mobile Device Information Portal is the latest development in the wireless industry’s commitment to deterring mobile device theft.

CTIA will oversee the creation and implementation of the Mobile Device Information Portal.

The RFP is available at: http://www.ctiasmartphonecheck.org/

Source: CTIA Press Release