china_mobile_modelsDOT (Department of Telecom) government of India due to security reasons has asked the GSM service providers in India to bar service to all mobile phones without valid IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. IMEI Code is used to track the mobile phones globally. The cellular operator can be able to track the location of the mobile handset when the mobiles are using the cell towers. Most of the Mobile hand sets from China that are sold in India which come cheap in price do not have the IMEI Code.

It is estimated that nearly 16 million cell phones in India are not having IMEI Code.

Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and Mobile Standards Alliance of India have jointly developed software to provide IMEI code to the handsets that come without IMEI number (Global code to identify mobile handsets).

Cellular operators association of India has obtained IMEI numbers from GSMA, the global body that allocates these numbers. Mobile Handset owners can get IMEI code at a price of Rs.180/- at nearly 1,600 centres across India set up by COAI. Initially 10 centers were started in New Delhi, and will be extended through out the nation.