Several years ago, back in the days before Qualcomm OmniTRACS™ and widespread usage of cell phones & PDAs, I wandered from the palatial parking lot into the fine facilities at the TA Truck Stop in Columbia, NJ so I could call dispatch. I fully expected to hear, yet again, the familiar phrase: "Nothing yet - call me back in an hour"; but I had my trusty Marvin the Martian notebook with me - just in case. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that I had a load to pick up the next day at Metals USA in Leetsdale, PA; a shipper I was very familiar with. I jotted down my pick-up number, thanked the dispatcher, and ordered some coffee.
With a full thermos and plenty of time on my hands I looked forward to a leisurely drive across Pennsylvania; I left a tip, paid my bill and strolled back out to the truck. I didn't realize, until the following day, that I'd left my Marvin the Martian notebook sitting on the table. To my utter and unending amazement the waitress not only found my information packed notebook, but she realized its importance, used the "Return To..." tag, and mailed it back to me. Since the 20% tip seemed woefully inadequate, considering the extraordinary lengths she went to, I sent her some flowers.
A relatively new company, YouGetItBack.com, has expanded on the "return to" tag and developed electronic lost-and-found tagging for cell phones. Once activated, the e-tag sits as an application on lost cell phones and PDA’s, preventing non-user calls being made and providing a tracking system to help return a phone to its rightful owner. This service also provides a denial of service, remote delete, data backup and recovery, and guaranteed replacement functions.
When a cell phone or PDA is lost, the owner simply visits the YouGetItBack website and activates the e-tag wallpaper. Once activated the wallpaper sits on the phone screen and only allows the YouGetItBack.com 24/7 call center to be contacted. YouGetItBack’s mediated service actively helps get the lost item returned to the owner and the finder receives a small reward. For owners with mission critical information, YouGetItBack offers a remote backup and delete facility and, should a phone not be returned, the company can store and transfer contact information to new phones. Should a lost cell phone or PDA be found unexpectedly by the owner, the e-tag can be deactivated at any time.
Yougetitback's e-tag service is expected to be available in May (I'll remind you about it once it's been officially opened) and they also offers a 21st Century lost-and-found security tagging system that you can use for other items; like laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, keys, or anything else you can think of. Yougetitback.com provides metal, adhesive, tags marked with reference numbers, information about the product and some contact information. That information - coupled with cash rewards for returners (provided by YouGetItBack.com) - increase the likelihood that the lost will not only be found; but returned, as well.
The first laptop I ever purchased, lo those many years ago, was a refurbished IBM 380XD. The laptop was only a year old and that, for me, was perfect. I saved a bunch of money and, even though the components were "last year's stuff", the laptop would do everything I wanted it to do; and more. 
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