While the battle may be endlessly ranging between Apple’s iPhone and Samsung’s Galaxy S4, causing fans and industry analysts alike to weigh in on which is superior, Apple has at least always had the edge when it came to finding a misplaced phone. The device’s “Find My iPhone” function has been a trademark of the company’s devices for years, saving many a user hours of frustration by remotely offering the location of their phone, or even offering advanced protection of personal data. With Find My iPhone, an iOS user can lock or wipe the memory on their device from a distance, helping to keep sensitive information, like email access or login passwords, from falling into the wrong hands.

Now, Samsung and the rest of the Droid brethren are taking a similar tack with the new Android Device Manager, which is supposedly set to be fully functional and in users’ hands by mid-to-late August. The system will work similarly to Apple’s Find My iPhone program, allowing users to ring their phone at maximum volume when they misplace it–even if it was on silent mode when lost–or to bring their missing device up on an online map for GPS-locating capability.

Android has also mimicked Apple’s memory-wipe fail safe, which will completely clear the memory on a phone if it has been stolen or loss and contains sensitive information. Not to be outdone, Apple is said to be enhancing that feature on upcoming version of iOS 7. Users wishing to delete a phone’s memory will now have to input special login credentials to do so, a safeguard that should keep the number of prank phone wipes to a minimum.

The new Android Device Manager service will be available on phones running Android 2.2 or higher and will be operated via the web through online Google accounts. In other words, Gmail users should be all set. Those without Google accounts will likely want to set one up before the worst happens and their phone goes missing. In addition, the device manager will soon come in app form, allowing users to track their lost phones via another  mobile device.

While Android phones have never been completely without security, the Android Device Manager is a substantial step forward for the operating system. With smart phones as expensive and well-built as they are today, losing a phone can be a costly mistake. Android has always allowed device owners to lock screens and set up password identification, and the app store has needed some additional security due to its overwhelmingly third-party nature. However, the Android Device Manager will put many new features at the fingertips of a compromised device owner.

To learn more about Android Device Manager, click here.