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Ban Cellphones with Cloned IMEI's: ICA
Techtree News Staff, Nov 20, 2009 1804 hrs ISTSays it may pose potential threat to national security
The IMEI-less Chinese phone saga took a new turn yesterday when the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) asked the government to impose a ban on all devices with cloned IMEI numbers.
As most of you might be aware, the 15-digit IMEI number is a legal requirement on all GSM cellphones. Unbranded Chinese handsets, however, do not come with IMEI numbers and in some cases, come with spoofed IMEIs that actually belong to other phones. The ICA is calling for the ban of all such phones, as they possess a serious security threat. The long saga regarding the ban of Chinese cellphones, the unbranded ones has been going on for well over a year now with no resolution in sight The ICA, on November 19, asked the government to ban cell phones with cloned International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number -- a 15-digit code that identifies a mobile phone.
ICA President Pankaj Mohindroo told reporters about the threats presented by such handsets. Mohindroo said, "These sets may pose potential threat to the national security. We find many cell phones with cloned number in the grey market, which mostly sell cheap imported ones."
The ICA has also asked the government to make sure that cellular operators adhere to the November 30 deadline for barring services to all such handsets who are either laden with spoofed IMEIs or do not come with one at all. There are believed to be over 25 million low-quality, IMEI-less Chinese handsets in Indian and their popularity is on the rise, thanks to their low cost and features that compare well with high-end phones from reputed manufacturers.
As most of you might be aware, the 15-digit IMEI number is a legal requirement on all GSM cellphones. Unbranded Chinese handsets, however, do not come with IMEI numbers and in some cases, come with spoofed IMEIs that actually belong to other phones. The ICA is calling for the ban of all such phones, as they possess a serious security threat. The long saga regarding the ban of Chinese cellphones, the unbranded ones has been going on for well over a year now with no resolution in sight The ICA, on November 19, asked the government to ban cell phones with cloned International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number -- a 15-digit code that identifies a mobile phone.
ICA President Pankaj Mohindroo told reporters about the threats presented by such handsets. Mohindroo said, "These sets may pose potential threat to the national security. We find many cell phones with cloned number in the grey market, which mostly sell cheap imported ones."
The ICA has also asked the government to make sure that cellular operators adhere to the November 30 deadline for barring services to all such handsets who are either laden with spoofed IMEIs or do not come with one at all. There are believed to be over 25 million low-quality, IMEI-less Chinese handsets in Indian and their popularity is on the rise, thanks to their low cost and features that compare well with high-end phones from reputed manufacturers.
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