Google may be releasing its own variation of the ‘find my phone’ application with Android Device Manager, but if you are impatient or need a more featured alternative then here are the 5 best applications to track your Android phone.
All of the following features are available in all of the options below:
- Make your phone ring at full volume even if it’s on silent
- Locate it using GPS and display it on a map
- Lock your device with a password
- Erase both the internal storage and the SDcard
Android Lost
While still in beta, Android Lost definitely brings a lot of features to the table for those looking for some added functionality with their phone tracking.
- Browse the content on your phone through a web browser letting you get all of your pictures off the phone before you format it.
- Take pictures using the phone’s front/rear camera
- Use text-to-speech to make your phone read out a message you’ve sent to it
- Remote install to retroactively install it even after your phone has been taken
AVG AntiVirus Security
- Monitor battery, storage and mobile data to help optimise device performance
- Defends against malicious apps, viruses, malware and spyware
- Identifies unsecure device settings and advises how to fix them
- Helps ensure contacts, bookmarks and text messages are safe
- Checks media files for malicious software and security threats
Cerberus anti theft
- Record audio from the microphone
- Get a list of last calls sent and received
- Get information about network and operator the device is connected to
Wheres My Droid
- Stealth Mode hides incoming text
- White/Black list to control who can use the app via text
- Take pictures with the devices camera (Pro)
Your phone manufacturer’s own service
Manufacturers like Samsung and Sony have known for a long time now that Android phones were lacking the security features of their iOS and BlackBerry brethren and have made services to give users of their phones access to these features.
Samsung’s ‘Find My Mobile‘ and Sony’s ‘my Xperia‘ services have been available for a while now. Whether they’ll become defunct as a result of the Android Device Manager will be interesting to see, but for now they make a very valid option.
