Bharti Airtel has signed a deal with Onmobile Global allowing its customers to retrieve data following the theft of their mobile phones. However, the application is compatible only with the company's Java-based high-end handsets.

Mobile phone theft is a major concern in India. The solution will provide customers with a complete data back-up service, including videos, contacts, images and other files stored in memory. Initially, the service will be provided free.

The application, called 'over-the-air mobile', needs a user ID and pin number to access the information. The information can be stored and then transmitted to the digital vault through GPRS. Only the client can access the vault.

Onmobile Global CEO, Arvind Rao, said the phone backup product ensures the safety of personal information on mobile phones. He stressed the effortless migration of all important personal information to the new handset.

Two other telcos - Indosat of Indonesia and Maxis of Malaysia - have signed a similar deal with OnMobile. X