16 October 2008, 14:40

Android has a kill switch too

A report in Infoworld reveals that the Android mobile phone operating system supports a "kill switch" for malicious applications. In the small print of the agreement for developers to place their application in the Android Market was found the following line "Google may discover a product that violates the developer distribution agreement … in such an instance, Google retains the right to remotely remove those applications from your device at its sole discretion".

Google has, unlike Apple, disclosed the existence of the kill-switch before it was discovered by developers and has committed to try and get customers money back when it does remotely disable an application. There will though be group of customers who will object to the presence of any remote disabling functionality, claiming, as they did with Apple's kill-switch, that it inhibits their freedom, passing control of what they can and cannot run on their phone to the phone company or phone operating system maker.

The first Android based phone is due to arrive in the UK at the end of November with the release of the T-Mobile G1 phone.

(djwm)

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