Tracking Software.

[Anonymous]

Firstly, apologies if this has been covered somewhere else, but tried searching Tracking and it tends to relate itself to tracking orders.
Recently saw a news article about some software that is cross platform and someone was able to track his stolen laptop and even view it's camera, and information was passed to police and items recovered and person arrested. It also claims to work even if the Sim is removed and they try to connect using a different sim.
But if the device is password protected, I presume there's not a lot the "new" owner can do?

[anticpated]

It depends....

Google, Apple and Nokia (Microsoft) all having tracking software which can report a missing/stolen telephone on their websites.

A password can unfortunately be bypassed however with no boot men, as often a choice of a software manufacter these days, it's not straightforward as that.

https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

https://www.apple.com/uk/icloud/find-my-iphone.html

http://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/mobile/support/product/lumia800/userguidance/?action=singleTopic&topi...

http://uk.blackberry.com/apps/blackberry-apps/protect.html

Also there are a few good ones on the app markets, however this may be pretty pointless to your friend at this point.

[MI5]

I use lookout on my android devices which will resist most attempts to remove it when in the wrong hands. you even need to enter a pin (that you set yourself) to try and reset the device, so without the pin it can't even be deleted.
It will also email you if someone puts a new sim in your phone and will track the phones location from there on.

[Anonymous]

https://preyproject.com
This is the one that the news articles were about, it works across platforms.

[Bambino]

Here's another useful article along the same lines:

http://venturebeat.com/2015/01/17/how-to-protect-your-android-phone-if-its-ever-lost-or-stolen/