Lookout, a company that offers security services for a number of smartphones, is launching a premium service today. Lookout’s web-based, cloud-connected applications for Android, Windows Mobile and BlackBerry phones helps users from losing their phones and identifies and block threats on a consumer’s phone. Users simply download the software to a device, and it will act as a tracking application and a virus protector much like security software downloaded to a computer.
Lookout Premium for Android is essentially a suped up version of the free offering an includes new security and privacy features. With the Privacy Advisor feature, users can scan every app they download and quickly view a comprehensive list of apps that can access their private data, such as identity information, location, and messages. Additionally, consumers can view detailed app reports on the capabilities of these applications on their phone.
The premium plan also includes the ability to remotely wipe and lock a phone in case it is lost or misplaces. You will also be able backup and restore photos and call history, contacts and other data from different phones.
The free apps feature malware, virus and spyware protection, limited data protection and the ability to locate a missing device. Lookout Premium for Android phones is available for $2.99 per month or $29.99 annually, with a free 30-day trial.
In conjunction with the new paid offering, Lookout is also announcing that it has 3 million users (adding one million users only two months) and was recently featured in a Verizon Wireless commercial (see below). As we’ve written in the past, Lookout’s business is flourishing as smartphone adoption continues to rise. Users are becoming more aware of the security risks associated with the increased data and application usage on these devices.
In a recent study, Lookout found that more than 91% of consumers have some level of concern with the privacy of information on their phone, and only 7% of smartphone users feel extremely confident that they understand what private information is being accessed on the phone. Lookout also found that on average, users have 31 apps on their phones that can access their identity information, 19 apps that access their location and five apps that access their SMS and MMS messages.