Make Use Of Explains]Written byTim BrookesNovember 16, 2012Ads by GoogleYou might have heard the acronym “IMEI” and know it relates loosely to the identity of your phone, but do you know exactly what it’s function is and what it isused for?
Every new phone sold should have a unique IMEI number that is meant to remain the same for the lifetimeof that product.
As smart phones increasingly become the target of theft across the world, the value of an IMEI number – and more importantly havinga record of your device’snumber – is not to be underestimated. In this article we’ll explore why our mobile devices need an IMEI and run throughthe basic methods that will enable you to find and record yours.
What Is An IMEI?
IMEI literally stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. The clue’s in the name, but each and every device should have a unique IMEI to differentiate it from the rest of the pack. When you buy a new phone you may notice the IMEI on the box or even the receipt.
If ever you have to take your phone in for repair then there’s a good chance the IMEI will be noted for warranty and identity purposes.A standard IMEI numberis a 14 digit decimal string accompanied by an additional check number and an IMEI/SV (with the SV standing for software version) is 16 decimal digits, though these only usually appear on newerdevices.
The purpose of an IMEI goes beyond simple identification and the number can be used to block devices from accessing the cellular network.
If your phone is stolen and you notify your service provider, they will block the device from their network and in some regions other networks too.
Police often keep a record of stolen phones and use IMEI numbers as identification.
Ads by GoogleAs of 2004, the current format for these unique identifiers is AA-BBBBBB-CCCCCC-D.
The first two portions labelled A and B are known as the type allocation code(TAC), and these directly relate to the manufacturer andmodel of the phone.
As an example, the current iPhone 5has a TAC of 01-332700 and the Samsung Galaxy S2 uses 35-853704. The section of the code labeled C is a serial number unique to the handset and defined by the manufacturer. The last digit is a check sum, used for verifying the entire string. The IMEI is locked to thedevice, and has no relation to the SIM card.
So if your phone is stolen, settings reset and the SIM cardis replaced, theIMEI will not change without further intervention. If your phone is stolen and you attempt to block it using the IMEI, be sure to ask your carrier if this block will extend to other networks as well. If not, you might want to try contacting the other major networks in your region to ask what can be done. In certain regions changing the IMEI number is illegal without a good reason to do so, and the practice is generally frowned upon as there are very few valid reasons for doing so.While it may be illegal tochange the IMEI of a device, it does happen. Thieves in particular will attempt to take non-blacklisted numbers and apply them to their stolen devices in order to makethem usable again. For this reason it comes highly recommended that you never share or post your IMEI online, else you may find that your device can be cloned.
In the interests of ongoing investigations by authorities, an IMEI can be used when wiretapping a device as well.
How To Find Your IMEI?
The majority of mobile devices will display theirIMEI by entering *#06# on the keypad.
This is generally enough to reveal the code on older devices and most newerones too, though you can also use other techniques if you’ve got a phone manufactured by one of the following:iOS (iPhone, LTE/3G iPad):Found in the Settings > General > About menu.Android:
Found in the “Settings” menu under “About Phone”.Older Sony or Sony Ericsson:Enter “* Right * Left Left * Left*” on the keypad.Blackberry or newer Sony Ericsson:Foundin the “Options” menuunder “Status”.
If you would like to check exactly what your phone’s IMEI number says about your handset then you can do so using IMEI.info.
Conclusion The IMEI numbers in your mobile devices are important and unique identifiers that you should make a note of right now if you haven’t already. If your phone is stolen then the IMEI won’t help get it back, though you will be able to take some solace in the knowledge that you can render the device useless as a phone.
Have you ever blocked aphone using its IMEI? Have you got a record of the identification numbers stored in your device?
Add your thoughts and questions in the comments, below.e
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