OT: Found lost iPhone, how to find owner?

[kramnnim]

So, the other day I rode past what looked like an iPhone on the side of the road...I was too lazy to stop and check, so I didn't. I rode past it again today, and sure enough- it's an iPhone. I brought it home, charged it...and it's locked.

Any ideas on how I can find the owner? (other than posting in the newspaper)

Connecting it to iTunes doesn't get anywhere. If I put it into DFU mode and restore it, the contact info will be lost...right? I can't use the emergency dial to get the caller ID, either...

[dogdriver]

I had a similar situation a while back-- found an itouch, called Apple (800-my apple), gave them the S/N, they told me that they could see who it was registered to but were not in the business of acting as a lost-and-found. Thought this was a little cheesy, I'd imagine that the lawyers have told them not to intervene due liability or whatever. Long story short, if you can't call the "home" predial (you said it was locked), you probably have a new used iphone to enjoy...

The only other possible idea is to put it on a local message board (our local radio station does announcements, and a TV station runs an on line classified board-- sort of a local CL-- don't know if your locale does anything along these lines) or CL and give it to the person who can unlock it...

[rwsaunders]

Perhaps drop it off at an Apple or an ATT store?

[TMB]

Keep it charged and turned onk it may well ring as the owner tries to find it.

The owner may also have set it up on the Apple "where's my phone" service which basically uss the GPS to tell the owner where it is.

Keep it turned on, and charged, I think the owner will find you.

[ultraman6970]

Darn... is locked.

I ran over something similar like 2 years ago, when I called the guy he started jumping over one hand of happiness.

Good luck.

[uno-speedo]

Maybe remove the sim and try putting it in another phone? I'm sure it wouldn't work but worth a shot.

[kramnnim]

I'm guessing he already switched his number to a new phone, as the phone doesn't have service...didn't think of trying the SIM card in another phone, good idea...though all my phones are Verizon and don't use SIM cards.

I figured out that iTunes does show the name of the iPhone, "john doe's iphone", and I found a local guy with the same name on Facebook...waiting to see if he responds to my message.

[Grant McLean]

If he/she realizes it, the owner of the phone could be texting
themself and the messages would be showing up and be readable
even if the phone is locked. Keep it charged, see what happens.

-g

[kramnnim]

Got in touch with the owner on Facebook... fortunately for him, he has an uncommon surname.

...I was kind of hoping that I would be unable to find the owner, and would thus inherit an iPhone to use as an iPod...oh well. I'll mention that I'm a cyclist, and that's how I spotted his phone...maybe he'll tell his friends to be nice to cyclists when they pass us on the road...

[rickbb]

Originally Posted by kramnnim

Got in touch with the owner on Facebook... fortunately for him, he has an uncommon surname.

...I was kind of hoping that I would be unable to find the owner, and would thus inherit an iPhone to use as an iPod...oh well. I'll mention that I'm a cyclist, and that's how I spotted his phone...maybe he'll tell his friends to be nice to cyclists when they pass us on the road...

Well done!
Always nice to help people out.

[PacNW2Ford]

And the assumption is, no one who owns an iPhone is a cyclist??????

[kramnnim]

Well, he got his phone back...seemed pleased.

Yes, it would have been a lot easier to dial numbers saved in the phone...but since it was locked, that wasn't possible.

Originally Posted by PacNW2Ford

And the assumption is, no one who owns an iPhone is a cyclist??????

...is this addressed to me? If so, I have no clue where the question is coming from. By posting this thread in the first place, I was thinking perhaps someone here (and most of us are cyclists) was an iPhone user who knew more about them than I do, with some helpful tip that would help me find the owner.


An IRC friend had a good idea...his iPhone wallpaper has his email address somewhere at the bottom.

[avalonracing]

Good for you for returning the phone. As some who has owned all the generations of iPhones I know how important they can be to people. If all you know the phone could have had important photos taken on it that were not yet backed up.

[rice rocket]

Originally Posted by avalonracing

Good for you for returning the phone. As some who has owned all the generations of iPhones I know how important they can be to people. If all you know the phone could have had important photos taken on it that were not yet backed up.

Honestly, it amazes me how few people secure their smartphones w/ passwords. I'd hazard a guess of well under 50%. People live their lives out of their phones, yet can't deal with a simple unlock code.

[PacNW2Ford]

Originally Posted by kramnnim

Got in touch with the owner on Facebook... fortunately for him, he has an uncommon surname.

...I was kind of hoping that I would be unable to find the owner, and would thus inherit an iPhone to use as an iPod...oh well. I'll mention that I'm a cyclist, and that's how I spotted his phone...maybe he'll tell his friends to be nice to cyclists when they pass us on the road...

This just sounded funny, like someone who lost an iPhone and his friends wouldn't be cyclists or be nice to them. As you said, lots of cyclists have iPhones. Good work on returning the phone.