IMEI Number Registration

In the world of digitalization, we are facing technological advancement and growth day by day and with that, we are also facing the threat of network-related frauds. Nowadays, Mobile phones have become one of the most significant devices for communication. According to the buyer Technology Sales and Forecast study, that was conducted by the buyer Technology Association (CTA), the revenue generated by smartphones was valued at USD 78 billion in 2019, sequentially. Because of the pandemic, CTA projected revenue to succeed in USD seventy-one billion, a decline of 6 June 1944 year-over-year but millions of phones are stolen every day, and only in India, thousands of FIRs reported of stolen mobile phones. IMEI number is very used fully for tracking stolen phones. IMEI number is a very important component of a mobile phone which is known as “International mobile equipment identity”.

IMEI number is a unique number that is allotted to every 3GPP and iDEN mobile phone, as well as some satellite phones. The international mobile equipment device number is usually found printed on the internal part of the battery compartment of the mobile phone and it could also be displayed on-screen on most phones by entering *#06# MMI Supplementary Service code on the dial pad, or alongside other system information in the settings menu on smartphone operating systems. This number is allotted by the manufacturer of mobile handsets in the factory itself. This international mobile equipment identity can never be changed or erased by someone. Every IMEI number which is allotted to any device complies with the standards of mobile communication which is 3GPP TS 22.016 and equivalent to that. This IMEI number is used in international mobile equivalent identity tracking to find out where the device is currently located and to block the network from assessing the capabilities of lost mobile phones. Different brands of mobile devices have different IMEI numbers such as Samsung IMEI number, Nokia IMEI number, etc.

• Manufacturer:- every mobile equipment manufacturer or brand owner have to register on https://imeidb.gsma.com/ to get their own IMEI registration certificate. 
• Importer:- every importer of any type of mobile equipment have to log on to the online portal with the help of its user ID and password. Submit the application form before the specific date for the IMEI certification for the mobile handset IMEI lot to be imported to the Indian market. Then the GSMA automated system ICDR which is known as (IMEI cloning and duplication restriction). Then the ICDR will validate the information against the worldwide GSMA reporting body which generates TACs. after that if that validated information is found to be correct only then the registration certificate will be allotted for the import of any type of mobile equipment.

• Primarily the technical specification sheet of all fields is required to be filled in the specification part of the registration form.
• Then you need to fill the specific model for which the organization wants to get the IMEI certification.
• NDA (non – disclosure agreement)  - importer who wants to import any type of mobile equipment devices required a signed non-disclosure agreement from the director or owner of that organization from which he will going to import in the future. Then that signed non-disclosure agreement needs to send back in both hardcopy and soft copy.
• Manufacturer agreement – importer must get an Rs.100/- stamp paper (duly notarized) and then fill all the information and content in it. Then get the same sign of the director or owner of the organization. 
• The importer is required to send that document (manufacturer agreement) to the MSAI (mobile standard alliance India) office which is located in Delhi.Download For Reference in JPG & PDF

• Step 1:- firstly the importer and the exporter have to fill all the details in the form about their firm/company/entity just after providing the major required documents.
• Step 2:- then the authorities will perform an inspection of the documents of the company registered before validation.
• Step 3:- After getting the validation of the documents, the company/firm/entity is allowed to register the models of all the mobile equipment devices which they will go to import into India.
• Step 4:- After that, those mobile equipment devices model are registered in the form will be permitted to register themselves with additional attributes (model frequency, form factor, single sim, connectivity, etc.)  
• Step 5:- the IMEI number and the number of mobile numbers which will go to import must be registered.
• Step 6:- IMEI certificate for individual consignment is issued and can be submitted with the import documents for customs clearance in Indian Ports.

IMEI cloning and duplication restriction (ICDR) to not charge any fees for the issue of the IMEI certificate. The only expense is the Rs.100/- stamp paper (duly notarized) to fill in the information and content regarding the import.

• The international mobile equipment identity registration gives a permit or authorisation to mobile companies / entity to import there products easily.
• IMEI registration also helps in custom clearances at the time of import of any particular mobile equipment device.
• Any individual of the country can complete the registration of their phone by themselves easily.
• If case someone lost his phone or any mobile equipment device, IMEI number could help to track that device or to find the exact location of the device by IMEI, ESN, or MEID.
• The major advantage of the IMEI number is that IMEI number could help the investigative agencies to catch the criminals which helps to create a safe environment.