In a recent directive, the Government has asked all the telecom companies to cut off services to all handsets that lack an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number – a 14-digit code that helps in tracking a device. The last date to implement this directive is January 6, 2009.
Many Chinese mobile phones, which are much cheaper yet hosting no less functionalities compared to the established regular vendors’ products, do not carry these codes. However, those sets have so far been sold in the country. According to sources, over 25 million such handsets are being used in the country at present.
As this number is very much essential to identify the user phone, the decision was supposed to be taken long back, however, better late than never. Now, the questions are – what will happen to the consumers who have already purchased such cheap sets, and the suppliers who still have such sets in stock?
According to a recent Economic Times report, the Government is planning to extend the deadline until March 31, 2009, as the industry has developed a software that can assign an IMEI number to these phones with the help of a software update.
The report also communicates that in October, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had asked companies to store IMEI numbers in their Equipment Identity Register (EIR) databases, which is used to ensure that calls made from a stolen handset having a unique IMEI can be traced and blocked – rendering it useless. The same technology can be used to identify cell phones that lack an IMEI or just have a couple of zeroes for the IMEI number to effectively bar calls from such handsets. Post the diktat, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) is planning to approach the Government to seek an extension until the IMEI assigning software can be added into phones via the update, which will take some more time. Also, the Customs department has been notified not to allow import of such cellphones without IMEI numbers.
So, the consumers are safe, although they may have to undergo a little trouble till the IMEI codes are installed in their handsets. However, so far there is no indication about the fate of the unsold (unused) handsets.
IT resellers, who have diversified into the telecom business, should take a note of this development. The resellers who are dealing with the renowned brands are quite safe. This event once again sets an example of the advantage of dealing with the established products.