COAI warns mobile users of unauthorised embedding of IMEI


Mobile users throng authorised shops for IMEI numbers in this file photo.
GSM operators lobby Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) on Monday said it has stopped its IMEI number embedding programme and advised mobile users not to get duped by unauthorised people, who continue to implant the 15-digit unique identification code in handsets.

After the government’s directive to telecom operators to stop services to handsets without IMEI number, COAI had started the programme whereby genuine IMEI numbers allocated by the GSM association were implanted into the mobile sets.

“This programme has now been discontinued as per the directive of the DoT. However, it has been brought to our notice that some unauthorised people are continuing to implant IMEI numbers in subscriber handsets,” COAI said in a statement.

Genuine IMEI implant

It is hereby advised that the GII (Genuine IMEI Implant) program has been closed and that COAI is not responsible for any implants being carried out by any unauthorised persons, it added.

The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number is a 15-digit unique code embedded on all GSM mobile handsets, which is used for identification of the mobile set