What Is IMEI Number And What Is The Use?

SachinSangwan - Aug 26, 2019

IMEI number is a number for device identification shown below the mobile phone's battery to identify that particular phone.

Definition

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a number for device identification shown below the mobile phone's battery to identify that particular phone. Each phone has a different IMEI number. It gives us the details of the device's manufacturing location and its model number.

Each-mobile-device-has-a-unique-IMEI-number-printed-on-its-battery-1 — Each mobile device has a unique International Mobile Equipment Identity number printed on its battery

This number is available in CDMA, IDEN, and GSM, and some of the satellite phones too. It generally consists of 15 digits (even 16 or 17 digits), showing the device number, its origin place and its serial number.

An estimate indicates that around 25 million Indian users are using mobiles that don't have an IMEI number. Starting November 30, 2009 night, the Indian Government bans the use of mobile phones without the IMEI number or those that have fake IMEI numbers.

Function

A phone's IMEI number indicates the current location of the device. From this number, it is easy to identify where a person is present currently. If a mobile phone is stolen or lost, it can be easily traced with the help of its IMEI number. If an owner doesn't know his phone's IMEI number, he needs to dial *#06# from the phone to find out.

This-identification-number-helps-locate-a-mobile-phone-2 — This identification number helps locate a mobile phone

Benefits

The best merit of this number is its usefulness for catching criminals.
If a mobile phone has been lost or stolen, the IMEI number is quite helpful for tracing the location of the thief/mobile phone.

Its role in catching thieves

Police officers trace the location of a mobile phone after knowing the network used on the lost phone's SIM card. Then, they immediately inform all the nearby stations to catch the particular individual or vehicle using that mobile phone's IMEI number. The image below will give you a clearer view of how this is done.