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BlackBerryNews.com Review: GetItBack

How it Works

I was approached by Convenience Software, the makers of GetItBack, to do a little review of their product. I must admit, at first I couldn’t see where I would ever personally use an application with these capabilities. Let me be the first to tell you, I stand corrected. After using the program for a few days now, I couldnt think of walking outside with my BlackBerry without it.

The application comes in two parts. There is a small application that is installed on the device, and a server side portion that requires logging in to a web site. Here is the page. The Home page has an excellent break down of the service and I will not overwhelm you with the details, but to quote a few:

BlackBerry Statistics
With the new web-interface, you can view vital statistics about your BlackBerry which are updated every thirty seconds including: battery life, backlight state and lock state.

BlackBerry Controller
Another feature of the web-interface is the ability to remotely control your BlackBerry. You can make it ring (even if it’s on silent), activate an alarm, make it call you, and make it display a custom message

SIM Number
GetItBack’s Web Interface will also tell you your phone’s SIM number, so if the thief replaces your SIM card, you can easily track and retrieve your phone.

GPS Location
GetItBack’s Web Interface will even show you your phone’s GPS coordinates (if they are available on your device), and you will be able to see your phone’s location overlayed on Yahoo! Maps.

As you can see the application provides a laundry list of information to assist with the return of your device. In my experience the mapping feature (which can refresh itself in as little as 30 seconds) is extremely accurate, with not only a street view, but also satellite and hybrid views. Even going inside, the map will show the last known GPS coordinates, which was in most cases, marked as the building I was in.

Still on the fence? How about signing up your entire family’s devices, and being able to log into the web portal from any other BlackBerry? Ever lost your device in your house and cant find where it is, wishing it had a homing device built-in? Log in to the web portal and quickly send a message to the device to turn on your alarm or ringer. The music will continue to play until you either mark it found or pick up the device and silence it. No more calling from another device – that you may or may not have readily available - over and over just to find your misplaced BlackBerry.

Another great example? A corporation using a BES. We all know that the device can be remotely wiped/locked. You can also track the device via the BES. But what about being able to locate any of your employees’ devices, being able to see where they left their device, or track the cab that they left their BlackBerry in. With a 30 second refresh on the GPS map, as long as the device has power, you can see where it is with as much accuracy as any of the on-device GPS applications reveal. Now a BlackBerry Administrator can not only administer the devices, but we can now see where they are in near real time.

A few images are on the website as well, including the one used in this article. All in all, this is one of the best applications that I have used. Tech support was very quick to respond to the only issue that I had (on an OS that is not yet released to the public). This works beautifully on the 4.5 releases, including the many beta versions floating around. I would strongly recommend that you at least try this application out, because all it will take is just one use and you will be hooked.

Written by BlackBerryForums.com Moderator Sith Apprentice