From today, state will enforce ban on phones without valid IMEI numbers, but operators promise to help people
IPhone Clone
If you have bought your mobile phone from the grey market, you may suddenly find the handset turning useless in your hands. The government directive to GSM mobile service providers to bar connectivity to cellphones without a valid International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number comes into effect from April 15.
Concerned over national security, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had asked operators to disconnect handsets without valid IMEI numbers. A large number of people who use Chinese-made phones from the grey market or pirated instruments will be affected by this regulation.
WHAT IS IMEI NUMBER?
IMEI number is a unique 15-digit number assigned to each genuine mobile handset. It appears on the operator’s network whenever a call is made. It helps service providers trace calls made from registered phones. It is impossible to trace mobile phones that do not have a registered IMEI number.
WHY BAR NON-IMEI PHONES?
With cellphones aiding terror strikes like 26/11, handsets that do not have a valid IMEI number pose a grave security threat. This was indicated to the DoT in a report prepared by the Intelligence Bureau. It was also reported that Chinese mobile phones without a valid IMEI number were used by militants during the Ajmer blasts.
HOW TO FIND YOUR IMEI NUMBER
1. Ensure your phone is powered on 2. If you were in the middle of a call, end it, and clear any numbers you pressed while making that call. 3. Press the following keys in this sequence: *#06# 4. As you press the last #, your IMEI number will appear on your phone screen.
OPERATORS WILL FOLLOW RULE
Cellphone service providers are reportedly unhappy with the DoT directive as they stand to lose a wide customer base. To overcome the problem, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had suggested that a software be developed to assign genuine IMEI numbers to handsets that do not have one.
“Services to non-IMEI handsets will get disconnected from April 15. We are informing subscribers that if they have purchased an unregistered phone, they should replace their handsets as service will be de-activated,” said Gaurav Wahi, a spokesperson for Reliance.
Airtel and Vodafone did not comment, but directed us to the COAI. “Security concerns are real, but genuine customers too are getting affected by the DoT move. Users of cheap non-IMEI handsets form a very large customer base of over 150 million people in India. We cannot disconnect them totally. Mobile phone dealers are now providing duplicate IMEI numbers, which will only add to security risk.
“For the last 3-4 months, we have been developing a software to provide genuine IMEI numbers. We have identified around 2,600 outlets all over the country who will provide this service. We will basically track mobile phone users who do not have a valid IMEI number via SMSes and calls and ask them to approach the nearest outlet to make their connection genuine. People will have to pay around Rs 200 for this service,” said TV Ramachandran of the COAI.
GREY MARKET DEALERS UNFAZED
Grey market dealers feel the new regulation is not going to affect their sales. “The regulation will affect mobile phones that do not have IMEI numbers. But the new lot of Chinese phones being sold in the city come with IMEI numbers. Even phones without IMEI numbers can get registered,” said a mobile phone dealer at Manish Market near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, on condition of anonymity.
“There is a special software to get phones that do not have a valid IMEI number registered. The users have to pay Rs 150 or so. The phones will not go out of use,” said another dealer, who did not wish to be named.
Source:
ALPITA MASURKAR
Mumbai Mirror
15th,April,2009
Concerned over national security, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had asked operators to disconnect handsets without valid IMEI numbers. A large number of people who use Chinese-made phones from the grey market or pirated instruments will be affected by this regulation.
WHAT IS IMEI NUMBER?
IMEI number is a unique 15-digit number assigned to each genuine mobile handset. It appears on the operator’s network whenever a call is made. It helps service providers trace calls made from registered phones. It is impossible to trace mobile phones that do not have a registered IMEI number.
WHY BAR NON-IMEI PHONES?
With cellphones aiding terror strikes like 26/11, handsets that do not have a valid IMEI number pose a grave security threat. This was indicated to the DoT in a report prepared by the Intelligence Bureau. It was also reported that Chinese mobile phones without a valid IMEI number were used by militants during the Ajmer blasts.
HOW TO FIND YOUR IMEI NUMBER
1. Ensure your phone is powered on 2. If you were in the middle of a call, end it, and clear any numbers you pressed while making that call. 3. Press the following keys in this sequence: *#06# 4. As you press the last #, your IMEI number will appear on your phone screen.
OPERATORS WILL FOLLOW RULE
Cellphone service providers are reportedly unhappy with the DoT directive as they stand to lose a wide customer base. To overcome the problem, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) had suggested that a software be developed to assign genuine IMEI numbers to handsets that do not have one.
“Services to non-IMEI handsets will get disconnected from April 15. We are informing subscribers that if they have purchased an unregistered phone, they should replace their handsets as service will be de-activated,” said Gaurav Wahi, a spokesperson for Reliance.
Airtel and Vodafone did not comment, but directed us to the COAI. “Security concerns are real, but genuine customers too are getting affected by the DoT move. Users of cheap non-IMEI handsets form a very large customer base of over 150 million people in India. We cannot disconnect them totally. Mobile phone dealers are now providing duplicate IMEI numbers, which will only add to security risk.
“For the last 3-4 months, we have been developing a software to provide genuine IMEI numbers. We have identified around 2,600 outlets all over the country who will provide this service. We will basically track mobile phone users who do not have a valid IMEI number via SMSes and calls and ask them to approach the nearest outlet to make their connection genuine. People will have to pay around Rs 200 for this service,” said TV Ramachandran of the COAI.
GREY MARKET DEALERS UNFAZED
Grey market dealers feel the new regulation is not going to affect their sales. “The regulation will affect mobile phones that do not have IMEI numbers. But the new lot of Chinese phones being sold in the city come with IMEI numbers. Even phones without IMEI numbers can get registered,” said a mobile phone dealer at Manish Market near Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, on condition of anonymity.
“There is a special software to get phones that do not have a valid IMEI number registered. The users have to pay Rs 150 or so. The phones will not go out of use,” said another dealer, who did not wish to be named.
Source:
ALPITA MASURKAR
Mumbai Mirror
15th,April,2009
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