Google announces Android Device Manager to help you track a lost phone...!

Google has announced a new tool

that will let users track their lost

Android phones on a map, ring

them and remotely erase all the

data on the phone.

Google has informed that the

service will be available later this

month on devices running Android

2.2 or above. To use the service,

users will need to be signed into

their Google Accounts. Google will

also offer an Android app to allow

users to track and manage their

Android devices.

In a blog post , Google mentions that Android Device Manager, can quickly ring a linked phone 

at maximum volume so that users can find it (even if it's been silenced), or locate it on a map, in real time.

 It mentions, "If your phone can't be recovered, or has been stolen, you can quickly and securely erase all of 

the data on your device to keep your data from ending up in the wrong hands." We're not sure why Google 

jumped the gun early and made the announcement, even though the service is still awaiting a launch. It could 

have announced it when the service was ready. Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry have been offering online 

utilities, namely Find My iPhone, BlackBerry Protect, and Find My Phone, respectively, that let owners 

of phones track the location of their handsets, lock them, trigger an alarm and wipe data remotely, for

 a long time. Google is late to the party, however, making the utility a part of Android would benefit a 

large number of users. Handset makers

like Samsung and HTC already offer similar tools

 with their Android phones.

 Sony had also started rolling 

out its remote security service "my Xperia," in July. 

While third-party services offered

by companies like McAfee, Norton,

Quickheal and Kaspersky, among

others also offer mobile security

services, they charge users a one

time or recurring fee.