Credit Card-Sized Anti-Theft Device Has Promotional Potential

Identity theft is one of the biggest problems of 21st century life. With the onset and growth of e-commerce platforms and online integration for all kinds of things, not to mention the shift to smartphones as primary computing devices, customers are doing everything they can to protect their bank accounts and credit card numbers.

Now, a new product is in the Kickstarter phase, and could make a real difference when it comes to protecting customers' identities. What's more, given its construction, there are definitely ways that the promotional products industry should be looking into this.

Using a physical card about the size of a credit card that integrates with a smartphone app, the I&Phone automatically locks the user's smartphone when they're more than 100 feet away. That way, if someone's phone is lost or stolen, the thief can't simply open the smartphone and start shopping. Or, now that many smartphones have payment software like Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, that means that if someone's phone is stolen, the person could possibly use their phone as a debit or credit card.

Credit: I&Phone Kickstarter

If your phone is stolen, you can keep it from being turned off so it can be tracked, and you can use the front and rear cameras to record 10-second videos, sending videos of whomever might have your phone right to your email.

The I&Phone card also comes with a wireless charger, which boosts the promotional possibilities even further.

Think about cyber security companies, banks and more. Clients could put their logos on the card as well as the charger for a useful incentive gift or giveaway item that end-users would use regularly.