International Mobile Equipment Identity

By Author: Jamie Hanson
Total Articles: 3495
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IMEI is the short form of International Mobile Equipment Identity. This is basically a number that is unique for each and every mobile handset- be it a CDMA or a GSM one. This number holds a lot of importance because this is different for all phones and can be used to locate whether the phone is being used with a GSM or a CDMA network.

This makes the security of the mobile stronger. If your phone has been stolen and being used in any of these two networks then the chances are very high that it will get identified with the help of this particular IMEI number. In order to do so you will have to get in touch with the service provider and ask them to put a stop on the usage of the phone which has an IMEI number that is yours.

They can do this quite easily. If you are in a notion that changing a sim card will make a big difference to this procedure then you are very wrong. The IMEI number remains equally effective even if you are inserting another number because the phone remains the same. A particular IMEI is only capable of identifying the phone's IMEI number.

There are some ways to locate the IMEI number ...
... of any mobile handset. If you open the cover of the phone and take out the battery, you will get to see this number either written on a label or simply at the back of the battery. The other way is to dial *#06#. From the mobile and you will be helped out with the IMEI number.

The users of Sony Ericsson can dial right,*, left, left,*, left, *, left in order to access their IMEI number. This is generally a 17 or 15 digit number that is often found in a format of AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D. After you loose your handset, you can contact the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). They will ban the number which will make the stolen handset completely useless.

But there is certain software that can often change the IMEI number. The statistics say that almost 10% of the handsets have a hacked IMEI number. This brings up a big question about the utility of this IMEI. Then you will be asked to think about the rest 90% which are absolutely unique.

So next-time when you buy a new mobile phone makes sure that you note down the IMEI number so that the thief can never make a use of your mobile phone.