Working of IMEI
IMEI stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is a unique built in ID through which your cellphone can be identified and its whereabouts can be traced. It is associated with each cellphone during manufacturing process. Importance of IMEI numbers can be understood by the fact that if your cellphone gets snatched or stolen you can trace your cellphone using IMEI number. If you are unable to get back your cellphone then at least you can take help from police to blacklist that IMEI number so that it can not be used by anyone. Cellphones without IMEI number is a major threat to the security of any nation. Such cellphones can not be traced and terrorists can use it for malicious purpose. Most of the cheap Chinese cellphones in the market do not have IMEI numbers. Some of them use the duplicate IMEI numbers too.
Have you ever wondered that how your IMEI number gets traced and how the blacklisted IMEI numbers gets blocked? IMEI numbers of all the mobile terminals are stored in the database known as EIR i.e. Equipment Identity Register. EIR stores three different lists of IMEI numbers – A white list, A Black list and A Grey List. White list consists of all the IMEI numbers who are allowed to access the network. Black list consists of the list of those numbers which are blocked. These are usually stolen terminals whose service have been barred. Grey list consists of faulty or non-approved equipment. These equipments are under monitor.
Recently I India put a ban on cellphones without IMEI number. If you had purchased cheap Chinese cellphone and you want to continue with your same cellphone then all you have to do is to immediately apply for unique IMEI number. It is possible to use your cellphone. You need to approach to ICA i.e. Indian Cellular Association for unique IMEI number. They embedded a new IMEI number into your cellphone. So you can continue using your same cellphone.
Great info.. I was looking for the same.. nice post