BlackBerry® Protect, a new application that allows BlackBerry® users to wirelessly backup, restore and locate their BlackBerry, is now available in Australia and New Zealand.

BlackBerry Protect is a free security solution that can offer peace of mind for consumers and small businesses in the event that their BlackBerry smartphone is misplaced, lost or stolen.

BlackBerry Protect provides features including:
* Remote device wipe
* Remote device lock
* Remote activation of a “Lost and Found” home screen
* Locate device on a map
* Remote activation of the BlackBerry smartphone loud ringer
* Wireless device backup and restore

BlackBerry users can choose to backup contacts, calendar, memos, tasks, browser bookmarks, and text messages on their device automatically on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis to minimise information loss in the event that their BlackBerry smartphone is lost or stolen.

When a BlackBerry device is lost, users can log in to the BlackBerry Protect website to lock the device and display a message on the smartphone home screen for whoever finds it. BlackBerry Protect also provides users the ability to locate the lost device on a map. If users believe the device is nearby, they can simply force the device to ring at full volume.

In the unfortunate event that the lost or stolen device can not be retrieved, users can delete the information on the smartphone and microSD card from the BlackBerry Protect website to avoid personal information landing in others’ hands.

BlackBerry Protect is available as a beta download today from the Test Center category on BlackBerry App World™ (www.blackberry.com/appworld). The app is free and works on selected BlackBerry smartphones running BlackBerry OS (Device Software) 4.6 or higher and requires a consumer data plan. For more information please visit http//au.blackberry.com/protect.