Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) announced yesterday that it is collaborating with Intel to ensure that its broadband wireless modules are interoperable with Intel Anti-Theft PC Protection Technology.

Through this collaboration, a theft management service residing in the network can send a message via SMS to the mobile broadband module inside the notebook, which securely transfers the message to Intel's Anti-Theft function inside the processor platform, which takes appropriate actions, such as completely locking the computer, making it unusable.

The theft management service can also take advantage of built-in GPS in the Ericsson module, which can send location data to a central server. The location function can be utilized to determine a theft situation - when the notebook is moved outside a pre-defined area - or to locate a lost notebook.

The solution will be available in commercial data protection products starting second half of 2009.