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Did you know that your service provider has a surprisingly large amount of control over your smartphone or PDA phone? They can turn it off, send messages to it directly, and even use it to find out where you are.

Yes, this technology has its merits, since it makes it easier for service providers to install any updates crucial to keeping their subscribers' mobiles and the network itself running smoothly. Thieves can also be caught if the service provider acts quickly enough to locate the criminal.

The problem is, anything can be abused, and that apparently seems to be the case with three families from Fircrest:

Somehow, the callers have gained control of the family cell phones, Price and Kuykendall say. Messages received by the sisters include snatches of conversation overheard on cell-phone mikes, replayed and transmitted via voice mail. Phone records show many of the messages coming from Courtney's phone, even when she's not using it - even when it's turned off.

Scary! In any case, check out the latest Mobile Computing Authority podcast, where I found out about the story.