NEWS / MOBILE PHONES

Mobile Phones Without IMEI Numbers Blocked

01 Dec, 2009, 4:27 pm IST | tech2 News Staff | Mobile phones

Mobile phones in India that do not have IMEI numbers have been blocked. It is being reported that that number could well be 25 million.

On October 29th we had carried a report that said that mobile handsets without the unique identification number, which helps authorities track users, will face disconnections by December 1. Holding true to that millions of phones have now been blocked.

The International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI is a 15-digit code unique to every GSM and WCDMA and iDEN mobile phone, as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed inside the battery compartment of the phone. It can also be displayed on the screen of the phone by entering *#06# into the keypad. This number appears on the operator's network whenever a call is made and the absence of this number makes it impossible to trace either the caller or the phone or to access call details.

According to Indian intelligence agencies, phones without IMEI numbers - that are mostly cheap, unbranded phones - have been used by militant groups to stay under the radar.

According to the Indian Cellular Association 30% of all phone sales in the country are of the unbranded ones, which are mostly imported from China.

Read the full story here.

Tags: IMEI , India

RELATED STORIES

Are Chinese Phones Really Banned?

Are Chinese Phones Really Banned?

IMEI numbers have caused a paradigm shift in the cheap mobiles market. Really?

Spice Mobiles Issues Advisory on IMEI Numbers

Website for Registering IMEI Numbers

Pakistan bars 13,000 obscene sites

Suspicion grows China was behind hack of US commission

India accused of hacking into U.S commission's emails

8 Indian cities in top 10 for Googling 'sex'

 

OPINIONS

Shayne Rana

In the mobile game it pays to experiment with technology especially when it comes to design form. In...

MORE OPINIONS

Leaked Images, Availability, Pricing,
Specs, Pre-order

Photos

LG Optimus Black P970

LG Optimus Black P970

24 Jan, 2012, 06:11 PM

3.9

Motorola Defy+ Review

Motorola Defy+ Review

20 Dec, 2011, 05:39 PM

3.5

Motorola RAZR XT910

Motorola RAZR XT910

19 Dec, 2011, 09:27 AM

4.7

MORE PHOTOS

Close

More from this Author

'One last run' for the HP TouchPad