Import of Chinese cell phones without identity code banned
June 17th, 2009 - 9:03 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, June 17 (IANS) Import of Chinese mobile phones without unique identity code numbers has been banned, India’s commerce ministry announced.
“Import of mobile handsets without International Mobile Equipment Identify (IMEI) number or with all-zero IMEI is prohibited with immediate effect,” the Director General of Foreign Trade said in a notification.
IMEI - a unique 15-digit number - helps authorities trace the handset that has been used to make a call.
The Department of Telecom (DoT) had earlier directed telephone operators to disconnect services to subscribers who own handsets that do not have the IMEI code as such phones posed a security threat.
However, since then, the Cellular Operators Association of India has developed a software for embedding genuine identity code - issued by the global association of telecom operators - on handsets without the requisite IMEI numbers.
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- Crackdown on sale of illegal mobile phone sets, 23 held - Dec 10, 2009
- Software developed to embed security code in handsets - May 04, 2009
- Third party should keep stolen mobiles' database, say firms - Dec 18, 2010
- Telecom operators get breather on security code setup - Feb 19, 2009
- 20 millions mobile phones without IMEI blocked for security reasons - Dec 01, 2009
- Ban on handsets without security code deferred - Jan 07, 2009
- 'Demand for high-end mobile phones is booming' - Nov 26, 2009
- TRAI issues notices to operators for violating norms - Aug 17, 2011
- India to phase out Chinese handsets by April 13 - Apr 04, 2009
- DoT asks telecom operators to cut off mobiles without security codes - Oct 12, 2008
- Mobile number portability will improve quality of service (Comment) - Nov 28, 2010
- Telecom market dominated by older players, users wont get affected: TRAI - Feb 02, 2012
- Haryana to get Mobile Number Portability - Nov 24, 2010
- India adds 6.87 mn GSM subscribers in March - Apr 20, 2012
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