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IMEI Database VV

The GSM Association maintains the IMEI Database (IMEI DB), a global central database containing information on device serial numbers (IMEIs) and their manufacturers. The IMEI DB stores basic details about millions of mobile phones and tablets, such as the manufacturer, model, and device capabilities. Network operators use the IMEI DB to determine device types and features to offer appropriate services. The IMEI DB also acts as a global blacklist database, allowing operators to share lists of lost, stolen or faulty devices to deny their use on other networks worldwide.

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177 views2 pages

IMEI Database VV

The GSM Association maintains the IMEI Database (IMEI DB), a global central database containing information on device serial numbers (IMEIs) and their manufacturers. The IMEI DB stores basic details about millions of mobile phones and tablets, such as the manufacturer, model, and device capabilities. Network operators use the IMEI DB to determine device types and features to offer appropriate services. The IMEI DB also acts as a global blacklist database, allowing operators to share lists of lost, stolen or faulty devices to deny their use on other networks worldwide.

Uploaded by

azharali4434
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IMEI Database

The GSM Association maintains a unique system known as the IMEI Database (IMEI DB). The
IMEI DB is a global central database containing basic information on serial number (IMEI)
ranges of millions of 3GPP devices (GSM,3G, LTE) e.g. mobile phones, laptop data cards etc.
that are in use across the world’s 3GPP networks. The IMEI is a 15-digit number that is used to
identify the device when it is used on a 3GPP mobile network. The IMEI must be unique for each
device, so there needs to be a way of managing allocations of IMEIs to handset manufacturers
to ensure that no two devices are made with the same IMEI. The GSM Association performs this
role, and records a list of all of the IMEIs that it has allocated in the IMEI DB. When allocating
IMEIs to a device manufacturer, the GSM Association stores some basic information associated
with the IMEI. This information includes the manufacturer name and the model identifier of the
associated device and some of its technical capabilities (e.g. frequency bands, Operating
System, WLAN & Bluetooth capability etc.).

The GSM Association provides access to the IMEI DB to its members, the 3GPP network
operators across the world, and to qualified industry parties (i.e. manufacturers of device
management products). The network operators use the information in the IMEI DB to
determine what types of devices are being used by their customers, and what features the
device supports, so that they can offer and supply the latest services to their customers
through the network.

The IMEI DB also supports what is known as a “black list”. The black list is a list of IMEIs that
are associated with GSM or 3G devices that should be denied service on 3GPP networks
because they have been reported as lost, stolen, faulty or otherwise unsuitable for use.
Previously known as the Central Equipment Identify Register (CEIR), the IMEI DB acts as a
central system for network operators to share their individual black lists so that devices denied
service (blacklisted) by one network will not work on other networks even if the SIM card in the
device is changed.

Network operators who deploy Equipment Identity Register (EIR) in their networks use them to
keep their own list of blacklisted lost or stolen phones. Operators’ EIRs automatically connect
to the GSMA Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) which is part of the IMEI DB system
every day to share their latest list of blacklisted devices with other operators. Every day since
1996, the CEIR has taken the black lists from different operators around the world and added
them together into one big black list. When an EIR subsequently connects to the ICEIR, it
downloads the latest blacklisted IMEI for its own use. By loading the new black listed IMEI onto
the own EIR, all handsets reported as stolen on all other connected networks all over the world
up to the previous day are now also blocked on that network.

As 3GPP devices have become more sophisticated and more expensive, they are also
unfortunately more attractive to thieves, and since about 2002, there has been an increased
need for the IMEI DB to be used as a tool to combat handset theft. Many mobile operators have
responded to the problem of handset theft by deploying EIRs in their networks and connecting
them to the IMEI DB. At present (Nov 2014), there are in excess of 80 operators connected to
the IMEI DB from the following countries:

Argentina Denmark Ireland Portugal


Belgium Ecuador Italy South Africa
Bolivia El Salvador Malta Sweden
Canada Finland Mexico United Arab Emirates
Chile France New Zealand United Kingdom
Colombia Guatemala Norway Uruguay
Costa Rica Honduras Panama Venezuela
Cyprus Hungary Peru
Media and governmental pressure in other countries, especially where handset theft is a
problem, is causing many other operators to enquire about connecting to the IMEI DB. The
GSM Association strongly encourages use of the IMEI DB and welcomes all of its members to
connect to the system.

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