05 Apr 09 30 Million Phones May Be Shut Down in India by April

When you buy a mobile phone, be sure it carries an authentic IMEI. What is an IMEI?

IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity, a number unique to every GSM and WCDMA and iDEN mobile phone as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed on the phone underneath the battery. It can be found by typing *#06# on a handset.

Apparently the move is geared not solely for tracking down illegally distributed phones. As far as India is concerned, the reason is for security. India’s mobile phone networks have agreed to an aggressive 10-day deadline to disconnect all mobile phones which either do not have a unique IMEI serial number, or use Chinese style blank IMEIs. The regulator ordered the clampdown citing security concerns following recent terrorist attacks in the country.

The IMEI is supposed to be both 15-digits in length, and unique to the handset. Recent reports have claimed that the operators are detecting up 1,000 handsets all sharing the same serial number. Although the serial number does not affect the billing, which is managed by SIM identities, it does add an extra layer of proof for the police if checking who made a phone call from a specific handset. As the IMEI is transmitted when a handset connects to the mobile network, access by that handset can be blocked by the network operator – a facility which is often used to prevent stolen handsets being reused with a replacement SIM card.

The operators were ordered to block the errant handsets earlier this year, but little progress was made resulting in the mandate from the Department of Telecommunications to step up the programme. The operators are trying to contact the users of handsets which will be blocked to advise them of the issue.

(Source) Cellular News

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