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SmrtGuard Beta Goes Public! By Bla1ze | 21 Mar 2009 12:11 | 
137 comments
Alright folks, here is your chance to get in on an amazing application that I personally feel everyone who has ever lost or had a BlackBerry stolen NEEDS to have. SmrtGuard has been in a closed beta for many months now and finally the application has been opened up to a public beta for all to sign up and utilize.
I have been using this application for the past few months now and while I thankfully have NEVER had to use it to its full potential, the portions of the service that I do use on a daily basis are amazing and have saved me on many, many occasions. Read on for more information on this great application and be sure to check out the public beta. SmrtGuard is aimed at protecting your device and the information it holds. There are a great amount of applications out there designed for loss prevention and data back up, but from my usage so far none have given me the confidence that my device and data are protected in a way I can trust like SmrtGuard.
The UI for SmartGuard is simple and nicely laid out outlining all the functions available to the user from the get go and set up is a complete breeze. 
Any of you out there been in a situation where you have lost information off of your device and then had the pain of not having it on hand when it was needed? All too many times for me, that address you copied and then deleted by mistake, that email that you totally forgot to save and was wiped out when your device did its set clean up, how about that number that called and you forgot to copy it down and now is no longer in your call logs? Ya, me too. SmrtGuard offers user customizable back-up operations, you can select exactly what and when to back up, so the pain of having lost information will never be felt again. The best part about it is, after a back up is done you can from a PC log in directly to you SmrtGuard account and view all the information right from your PC and if need be you can also restore all that information back to your BlackBerry directly from your BlackBerry all through the UI on the device. Frakin' nice!! 
Another great built-in feature of your online account for SmrtGuard . Web based tracking, so when you have SmrtGuard installed both GPS and Non GPS enabled devices can be tracked and found using your administration panel of the SmrtGuard site . Many uses for this as you can probably imagine. Lost your device, need to track your kids where abouts whatever the case may be. Also you may give permission to others to track your whereabouts as well through the "loved one" service, this is an awesome built in feature. As you all can see from the picture as well, there are buttons that say "Self Destruct" and "Audio Ping", these are some of the features I never have to use, but I am glad to see they are there. Through my testing and usgage of SmrtGuard they do work great, should you ever need to use them. Self destruct option is great, should you ever lose your device and need to ensure that none of the information on that device is readaable or obtainable. Just login to the admin panel and remotely wipe all your data from your device. Ensuring no personal information is available to whom ever got you BlackBerry, it's also password protected to ensure you are indeed the one requesting the wipe to be completed. Audio ping is a cool feature as well, kinda wish they had this option for TV remotes, say you misplace your BlackBerry in your house you can send and audio ping to your device and have it make noise for 10 minutes allowing you locate your BlackBerry. 
SmrtGuard also includes a function called "Personal Guardian". This service allows you to control through one touch services, who is contacted in case of an emergency. You can assign phone numbers and even have emails and text messages sent out form your device all with a customizable message. I tested this out and from all my testing text messages went through, phone call was placed and email was recieved which was really satisfying to know in case anything should ever arise where the function is needed and it sure beats having a simple ICE (In Case Of Emergency) contact in your address book. 
Final feature we'll cover for SmrtGuard is SIMGuardian, this function assumes your device has either been stolen or someone has gained unautorized use of your BlackBerry by swapping SIM cards. You can register authorized SIM cards on your devices so that if someone elses SIM card is placed into your BlackBerry you get notified about the swap. Kind of funny, but I actually came across this feature, activated it and totally forgot about it until I took the SIM card out of my Storm and placed into my Bold. I was then sent a message notifying me about the SIM swap and that auto-tracking had been enabled, where I could login to my SmrtGuard Admin panel and track my device. Sweet!! All in all, from my testing of SmrtGuard I am walking away pleased with this application. For the most part I have only used the backup and restore options for the services and stumbled across the other features by accident but in doing so I was able to confirm that the said features work great and well, that I hope I never have to use them but at least I have comfort in knowing that if/when I do, they do work. You can check out the public beta of Smrt Guard now as they have recently gone live with it and it supports:
BlackBerry Storm All with a minimum requirement of BlackBerry OS 4.3. Learn more about SmrtGuard and to sign up for the public beta check out their site>>
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BlackBerry Apps
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Wouldn't you love to sneak up on your unsuspecting thief and steal your phone back? oh the look on his face....
Signed up but I cant log in to my account. Its not so smart after all. Looks like a nice program id like to try out. Maybe Ill try again later to sign into my account.
Have you tried requesting a new password or sending a support email to them?
betasupport @ smrtguard . com should be able to assist you with the issue.
Have to remember it is a beta and issues like the one you are having are the reason "betas" exist, in order to work the kinks out but if SmrtGuard is unaware of the issue, they cant fix/address it. ;)
Email us at betasupport@smrtguard.com, we will help you sort it out.
The basic steps is once you sign up:
1. Activate the web account, which gives you a screen to create you username and password and BBPIN.
2. Once that is done, you can activate the device side using the device side code in your activation email.
Thanks for signing up!
How much is this gonna cost when it comes out? and it is taking forever to sync call logs, its been over6 minuits. One more question. When the battery it out of the phone, it still says connection: Ready for command
There has been no official announcement on pricing, but please..feel free to leave a comment on what you'd pay for the services, again this is why beta exist to collect information such as what users would pay.
Also, timeframe for sync will of course depend on how much data you are trying to transfer, you are kinda at the mercy of your carrier in terms of speed of data transmission speeds, in the event the application is hung up just try again and report any issues if you need to to beta support.
Hi liveify,
The backup time for any item depending on your connection speed and the number of items you have. If it times out or fail due to network or connectivity issue, it will restart after 15 mins, if the backup is kicked off by the scheduler.
As for the cost, we will be sending out a survey to all the beta users to gather feedback on pricing before we set our final price.
Thanks.
Any idea on anticipated pricing structure?
Working great on my Storm. This is an app I wouldn't mind paying for. Great job SmrtGuard.
I got everything up and running - activated the account device side, set up a BIS email account with my carrier (Verizon) and verified it, but I cant seem to get any of the functions to work. Everytime I try to do something on the web UI, all I get is an email with a bunch of code as well as an attachment named homing.bfaction or whatever depending on what it is I clicked on. It won't let me open the attachment either, saying my device cant read it.
I'd really like to check this program out...it seems to be set up more nicely than other similar programs.
Have you edited your permissions to allow the program?
That + a battery pull seemed to do it. Thanks!
I'm having the same thing on Verizon with an 8130
Does this program require you to turn it on? Or is it constantly running? Or even better, Can one turn it on remotely from the website?
I normally close a program when I'm not using it in order to keep the phone running better so if I have the program shut off. It won't help me if it's stolen :|
been using this for a while in private beta and its a pretty nice and usefull app
i havent started reading this articcel but i wished i would have read it a couple of days ago when i first saw it. today i lost my curve, i feel empty sad paranoid and lost. im worried about all the stuff that was in my phone. i have so many questions can someone help me out. or point me in the right direction where somneone will be able to help me out.
i havent started reading this articcel but i wished i would have read it a couple of days ago when i first saw it. today i lost my curve, i feel empty sad paranoid and lost. im worried about all the stuff that was in my phone. i have so many questions can someone help me out. or point me in the right direction where somneone will be able to help me out.
VERY VERY cool app!
I can't get it to work right. I got everything set up and activated but when I send a Audio Ping it sends me a message with an attachment that I tried opening and it couldn't so I downloaded it but nothing happened and if you click the attachment and go down the menu it says SmrtGuard Action. When I click SmrtGuard Action then the Audio Ping works. The problem is if my phone were lost how would it help me if I had to click the action before it goes off?
If anybody knows how this thing works let me know please.
Thanks.
Just tried to download following the email instructions. Got "uncaught exception module with handheld [1408]and index[0] has no application entry point" Running bbcrackmans hybrid, would this be the problem or something else? anyone?
Just tried to download following the email instructions. Got "uncaught exception module with handheld [1408]and index[0] has no application entry point" Running bbcrackmans hybrid, would this be the problem or something else? anyone?
I got that same message, and afterwards it says Application Installed Successfully or whatever.
ditto, error message and then software is working.
Make that three. I had the same error. In the end it said it was installed correctly. I'm using the .114 hybrid if that matters.
I've tried every function except the nuke button and all seems to be working. The site itself seems a little...juvenile. However, if it really works in the real world (which remains to be seen) who cares about how the site looks.
I'm going to ... /gasp...give my phone to my wife this afternoon and track her while she's shopping to get a feel on how the tracking works. That is ...IF I can really give it up. On second thought, perhaps I'll just track it from my phones browser.
There are a few concerns. First, of course would be the price. Seems other users are curious also. And second, if stolen how useful is software to nuke the phones data if the phone is off. Finally, the privacy concerns can be paramount.
In the end, this software is like insurance. It's something we gotta have but, don't want to use.
4 Maybe...I had a similar error but with a different code: "Uncaught exception: Module with handle [2306] and index [0] has no application entry point" ...with the obvious blue "OK" button below...anyone have a solution?
after the message I can't do anything cuz it just freezes up. Soooooooooo frustrating.Guess I will just wait and see if I get any feedback from support.
This doesn't work for me. Uncaught exception when done downloading to my phone, and then trying to activate causes it to freeze up. Forget this app.
Storm 9530, .109
this is a great one to have....
Looks like the site is down
yeah it looks like too many crack addicts at once caused the site to crash. Oh well I got a chance to play with it before they went down and it is really quite awesome. It did take a battery pull to get it working right but now its alot of fun.
Yep its down.. But i also got to try it before it went down.. The locate ping worked good.. The test auto destruct sent a pop up message to my phone that it was a test. I was able to locate it on the map. So cant wait till its back up again..
Just downloaded this and openend an account with my Verizon Storm. Man this little ap is really useful. Is it free to use?
this app is useless. who loses there phone when its turned on? or when it has a full battery? any time i have lost my phone it is either out of battery within a couple minutes of my realizing its gone, when it lands on the ground the battery usually pops out. and so on. if this app works without the phone being on or without a charge which i don't see it doing then this is useless. the only way this app is helpful is if you lose your phone in a house or car with the vibrate or silence mode on. which is never.
It could slip out of your purse, pocket, etc, you could set it down while your out to dinner, and accidentally leave it on the table, lots of scenarios! I assume most people charge their phone at night. That being the case, mine usually has over half a battery when I go to bed at night.
Most likely if you DROP your phone, and the battery door pops off, AND the battery falls out, you're probably going to hear it anyways. Not only that, but eventually, someone will find it, put the battery back in, turn it on, and then boom, it receives the message to wipe, or transmits it's location.
I put the personal guard email address to myself to test it out and when I hold the menu key for 5 seconds...I get an email that says the following
GSM NETWORK, CELLID 4661
LCM: 1200 MCC: 784 MNC: 608
What does this mean? how does someone know your in trouble if they just get an email with this message?
And #2 The default number for the call and text message is 911...leave 911 for the phone call but dont leave the text message number as 911 because 911 doesnt have the technology to handle text messages...their working on upgrading it..but a lot of people think you can send 911 text messages..this is not the case.
vodafone uk users get @mobileemail.vodafone.net even on their blackberry storms. so, smrtguard is not accepting device information. it is saying it has to be blackberry.com or .net
I can't track my device. what can i do now??!
Same here mate, o2 users get @o2email.co.uk.... Gonna leave some feedback and see what they say... really want this to work. Looks like it could be a very useful app.
someone found my curve, and returned it to the employees at the train station. i called my phone and they told me to go get it. im so happy.
Not so much on accuracy (most are hitting to the nose on my address which surprises me for being inside). Just when hitting Locate my BB, it seems to work occasionally. I'll get a popup notify of a "message" because of Aerize Alerts, but it doesn't show within a few minutes on the SmrtGuard site.
Overall though, a good program so far. It has some kinks to work out and some site bugs (and a few typo's and grammar issues but nothing horrible)
Pretty cool, the map search doesn't seem too accurate..yet just like google maps on the phone if your indoors it does the 2500 meter thing, i tried the phone finder very annoying tone but will help you find your phone...
i just noticed which could cause problems if your not careful you can set it so when you hold the menu button for 5 sec the phone will vibrate it can call 911, sms 911 or email a specific email with a set message for help or all 3 at the same time if set
It's not turned on by default (the emergency options). YOU have to turn it on. YOU have to set it to a number. If you turn it on and don't change anything, it's not the developers problem you didn't change it to something else.
Hence why i said "you can set it"
Yes, I saw what you said =P I was just referring to the fact that if you enable it, you are acknowledging whatever it is you have in the field.
Is There an altenative to this app?... i mean it seens a great tool but i would like just the Self Destruction util, any input on this?
anyone else having a problem with the personal guardian? When i open it up I cant leave it. The back and close buttons dont work and the whole program is stuck there. Tried a battery pull didnt work. I sent in a bug report, but does anyone else have this issue?
Ok, now that it's done a partial backup, I am concerned about the information from my phone thats on their site b/c I can even use the program now. It wont open- just freezes!!! This is some BS!!!!
3rd time I am restarting my Curve!!
pretty cool app - installed on Verizon Curve 8330. had a few minor issues setting it up, but I think they were user (me) issues. Site would not accept the @vzw.blackberry.net address at first then it did.
Will play with it more. Pricing?
Thank you
In my tests on three different phones two 8900s, and a Storm. The backup process won't fully complete (hangs at Call Log with "working" status.) I must do a battery pull to get SmrtGuard to stop hogging memory. Anyone have input? Nice little app since it's mostly a setup and forget utility -- if it only worked.
this is prob the single greatest app ever!!! (next to the CB app store :P) This is great. I can sneak up and steal my bb back. The audio ping is great too!!!!!!!!!! I wish i had it for many things like my ps3 controller tho.
I was thinking the same about my keys!