Indian Goverment Bans Import Of Mobile Phones Without IMEI Number
Indian government has banned the import of mobile phones without IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. IMEI number is used to uniquely identify a mobile device. It corresponds to SSN or PAN number used to identify people.This move will majorly impact Chinese and Taiwanese companies whose phones flooded Indian market. The penetration of such mobile phones can be judged from the fact that there are more than 25 million phones present in India without an IMEI number.
Is it important to have an IMEI number?
IMEI number uniquely identifies a mobile device. It can be used to track the mobile like in which area the mobile is present right now and can also to help in billing and other services. It can be helpful in various life saving operations. With the help of IMEI number operators can pin point a mobile device with in one km of radius. Many cases of missing people and kidnaps have been solved with the help of mobile phones.
In recent terrorist activities mobile phones without an IMEI number have been used thus causing difficulties for the police to track the call.
Will this ban affect you?
If you already posses a mobile without an IMEI number you can get an IMEI number assigned from around 1600 outlets that Cellular Operators Association of India is opening in tie up with Mobile Standard Alliance of India. The users who don’t have IMEI number assigned to mobile phones will be denied service by operators from June 30.
I think that 1600 outlets is too small number and there is cost associated which will be coming from taxpayers money. Instead this service could have been provided with the help of telecom operators. Telecom operators already have outlets in every corner of the country. They can be leveraged to help in fast and easy allocation of IMEI numbers.
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