Almost everyone has been there at one time or another: that crisis moment after you�ve exhausted a search through your pants, your office, your car, and finally, all your belongings, only to come to the frustrating realization �your cell phone is MIA.
You�re not alone.
According to a report by Lookout, the global leader in mobile security, consumers lose their cell phone about once per year on average (remember, that doesn�t include the number of times you �misplace� it), with an average unrecovered cost of $250 per unit. The total loss estimate from Lookout adds up to a bill of $30 billion dollars in 2012 alone.
�Each day, $7 million worth of phones are lost by Lookout users alone, and if unrecovered, it would take a significant toll not only on our wallets, but on our psyche too,� said Kevin Mahaffey, co-founder and CTO of Lookout. �Safeguarding your smart phone starts with protecting it from the number one risk you face — losing it.�
In response to the problem, Lookout has released the Mobile Lost & Found, an interactive site that provides the detailed demographics and costs associated with cell phone loss. The data creates an interesting study on the odds and ends of cell phone loss:
- �Philadelphia residents lose phones twice as much as those from New York City
- San Franciscans and New Yorkers lose phones three times more than Chicagoans
Lookout’s top five cities for U.S. phone loss might surprise people:
On the other hand, Lookout’s top five locations from where users report lost phones might not:
So next time you hit that momentary panic attack moment when you think all your data, phone numbers, and favorite unique ringtone app are lost, remember you are not alone.
And consider trying to retrace your steps, or, if necessary, moving to another city.
– Marc Bastow, InvestorPlace Assistant Editor
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