The Daily App: Phone Control

Today's Daily App borders on creepy, but can be useful for keeping tabs on employees or offspring. Phone Control is an aptly named remote control app for Android smartphones and other devices that tracks all incoming and outgoing voice and text communications on the host device and can send notifications of such activities via SMS or e-mail, including GPS locations.

Phone Control can forward incoming SMS messages or phone call notifications to another SMS destination or e-mail account, including location of the call origin. It can also record phone calls to an audio file and forward that file as well as forward (via email only) videos and pictures taken with the host device's camera. Functions can be started and stopped using SMS keywords.

Earlier this month, Phone Control developer LauCass updated the app with the ability to send only when WiFI is present, to toggle the Bluetooth radio and to control mic and record settings. It also further enhanced other SMS and e-mail sending features. The tool installs invisibly, and also tracks contacts and installed apps. Phone Control works with Android 2.2 or higher; Android 3.1 or higher requires Phone Control Enabler, also from LauCass.