MobileMe Solution for Lost iPhone

Have you ever lost your phone in your house or worse, you left it somewhere? Apple's MobileMe website describes the product as follows: "MobileMe keeps your mail, contacts, and calendar information in the cloud and uses push technology to keep everything in sync across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, PC, and the web automatically. So no matter where you go or which device you use, all your information is up to date — no docking required." Additionally, MobileMe has a feature labeled Find My iPhone or iPad.

I used the Find My iPhone feature Saturday when I couldn't find my iPhone after having it with me in my pajama pants pocket most of the day. First I tried calling the iPhone using a land-line (yes, those cordless phones are still around in my house for now). Then I remembered my iPhone was on vibrate so it wouldn't ring. I decided to force the iPhone to make a sound by using MobileMe.

You must configure the MobileMe service ahead of time in order to use this function when you need it. Since I had had already configured my service, I went to a computer in the house with Internet access and logged into the MobileMe service. Next, I clicked Find My iPhone. First a map is displayed to show you where in the United States your phone is. Then I was given the options to 1. Display a message or play a sound, 2. Lock the iPhone, or 3. Wipe all data from it. I chose the options to send a text message to my phone that read "Here I am" and to force it to ring for two minutes.

In less than 15 seconds I located my iPhone in a chair stuck between the pillow and the inside of the chair. With all of the other options included in the MobileMe service it is worth the $8.25 each month for peace of mind to me.

NOTE: MobileMe has now been replaced bi iCloud by Apple Inc.