Not so long ago, losing a phone to the clutches of a taxi, couch or thief pretty much meant game over – your chances of getting the missing device back were somewhere between nil and zilch. Well, today’s phones aren’t called smart for nothing, and there are now plenty of apps that give us at least a fighting chance of tracking down a wayward phone.

As you might guess, these apps typically work by using the phone’s GPS chip as a homing beacon, allowing you to see the device’s location on an online map. Some of them also contain other security-minded features, such as the ability to send messages to anybody who might have stolen or stumbled upon your phone (“GIVE IT BACK!”), sound a phone’s alarm, lock the device if you didn’t set it with a password, or even remotely wipe it if it’s full of sensitive information. These controls are typically handled from either a Web interface or, in some cases, through a friend’s phone that has the same app installed.

Just about every smartphone platform has its share of free and pay phone-recovery apps. In my experience, most of these programs handle their core functionality (that would be showing a phone’s location on a map) beautifully. In case the missing gadget is in motion (say, left behind in a taxi), some apps even allow you to watch it move across a map in real time. That creates interesting stakeout and sting potentials for stolen phones (though you’re probably better off just calling the cops).

If you have an iPhone, the best solution is Apple’s own free Find My iPhone app. (There are also versions of the app available for tracking down a missing iPad or iPod Touch.) A good pick for Android, BlackBerry, Symbian and Windows Phone users is McAfee WaveSecure (about R140 a year). I’m also a fan of the free Android app Prey, which can quietly send you a continuously updated feed of snapped photos and GPS locations without letting a thief know what it is up to.

Predictably, these apps aren’t bulletproof. If a thief disables a phone’s GPS, some apps are capable of remotely switching it back on, but others are not. And if you’re using a GSM phone (basically, one that requires a SIM card) and the thief is smart enough to remove your SIM, it could foil your manhunt.

Of course, not everybody has an app-capable smartphone. If you’ve got an older phone, I suggest, at the very least, setting its lock screen to display your name and contact info and the promise of a reward for anybody who happens to stumble upon your phone. You’d be surprised how much of a motivator the promise of good karma and cash can be.