RIM gets official with BlackBerry Protect security app

Research In Motion has just introduced a brand new security application called BlackBerry Protect for the purpose of backing up, locating and restoring your beloved smartphone wirelessly.

BlackBerry Protect should come in handy for those worst-case scenarios, like loss, theft or damage beyond repair.

Following installation, users are instructed to back-up their files to the BlackBerry Protect web portal based on preferences. You can be choosy and just save copies of contacts, memos and calendars, among other information...or the whole caboodle. Here you also have the option of determining an automatic back-up schedule, but probably the more often the better if you have information you can't afford to lose.

Note that if you should really double check how much you're alloted to upload each month according to your service provider to avoid overage charges.

In the dreaded case of losing your BlackBerry, there are several methods of attempting to locate the darn device, including using the built-in GPS and the good ol' standard loud ring. If you think the RIM handheld has fallen into the wrong hands, not only can you scare the jerks with a large, red warning screen but you can also wipe the whole thing remotely.

The whole process comes full circle with a system restore function to bring all your data to the new BlackBerry.

Currently in beta phase, BlackBerry Protect will drop later this week to a limited number of users who are members of the BlackBerry Beta Zone group and lucky enough to get invite codes.

[Image via Inside BlackBerry]