Three new design innovations to tackle mobile phone crime, including a device that locks a phone and alerts the owner if it is taken away from them, have been unveiled.
The prototypes were developed by teams of designers and technology experts as part of the Mobile Phone Security Challenge, an initiative from the Home Office Design and Technology Alliance and the Design Council, with support and funding from the Technology Strategy Board.
The aim of the challenge was to protect mobile phone users from crimes such as mobile phone identity fraud, which rose by over 70% in 2009; to make phones more secure; and to prevent unauthorised use of mobiles for electronic contactless payments.
The solutions are:

• i-migo a small device which the user keeps about their person. The i-migo sounds an alert and locks the handset if it is taken out of a set range – either through theft or loss. The i-migo also provides automated backup of important data using Bluetooth technology.
• The tie solution this electronically matches a handset to a SIM card and protects data stored on the handset with a password and encryption. If stolen, the handset cannot be used with another SIM and data such as saved passwords, browsed websites, and contacts cannot be accessed by criminals, who could otherswise use it to defraud victims, by hacking into online bank accounts.
• TouchSafe aimed at making m-commerce transactions more secure by using a small card worn or carried by the user, who discreetly touches the phone to the card to enable the transaction, using NFC technology.

The three working prototypes will be on display at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Design and Technology Alliance and the Design Council will be calling for the industry to protect their customers by adopting these innovative security technologies. 
Overall crime has fallen since 1997, but as new technology creates new opportunities for the user, it can also provide criminals with opportunities as well, says UK Home Office Minister, Alan Campbell. This is where designing out crime can make a real difference, and we are leading the way by using technology to protect the public.
I believe the solutions developed by this challenge have the potential to be as successful as previous innovations like Chip and Pin, which reduced fraud on lost or stolen cards to an all time low, and would encourage industry to continue working with us and take them up.