Cloned IMEI mobile phones get routed out from December

Posted on the November 28th, 2009 under Mobile Apps, Mobile Companies, Mobile Service Providers, Tip, VAS by CellBharatTeam

The Indian Cellular Association (ICA) is the apex body of the mobile industry comprising of brand owners; technology providers; manufacturers; national distributors; application, solution and VAS providers, ethical retailers and eminent consumers of mobile handsets.

The association has been constituted to provide value and service to the mobile cellular handset industry in India; by fuelling its growth, improving competitiveness, helping create a legal and ethical market and regulatory environment, thereby providing long term benefits of mobile connectivity to the Indian masses.

The Indian Cellular Association has urged the customers and industry to call a halt from buying the unbranded illegal handsets which do not have a valid IMEI. The cloned IMEI number mobile phones will be eschewed from December 1, 2009.

The Indian cellular Association has also appealed the government not to provide services to such handsets without UID.

IMEI:

The International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI) is a 15-digit code that helps to identify a stolen handset and helps the security agencies to track the users. No two mobile phones have same IMEI number.

The Global Systems for Mobile Communications Association is the only body which assigns the 15 digits unique IMEI numbers to each and every mobile phone manufacturers worldwide under any legitimate brand.

Do you have legitimate IMEI number? Check it right down,

• IMEI numbers are being allotted by five bodies authorized by GSMA and from this user can identify the make and model of the handset.
• Mobile users can check the IMEI number of their handset by pressing *#06# or through compliance plate under battery.
• There are number websites available to  check it, just simply put your IMEI number in the given box and within few minutes after verifying you will be able to know that your IMEI number is legitimate or not.
• A simple SMS can help t verify your IMEI number

Type an SMS “IMEI {followed by your} (15 digit IMEI No.) to 53232
for e.g.: IMEI 351868910323340 to 53232

Message displayed for correct IMEI – Success
Message displayed for incorrect IMEI – Invalid IMEI

According to ICA India will witness 150 million handset shipments by 2010-11 from 130 million in 2008-09. Data capable handsets will number 25 million in three years as compared to 5 million in 2008-09. The handset industry is expected to grow 15 percent this fiscal.