Mostly due to the recent bombing in India, or so it is claimed, a decision has been made for cheap Chinese mobiles and other such devices to be equipped with an international recognition code, should this system prove successful.

Knowing that lately most assaults and terrorist bombing attempts have been successful due to remote mobile control and since most reports are saying that communication would be made impossible for such terrorists without the use of mobiles, a decision has been made to somehow “stamp” mobiles with an international code. For now, only the cheap Chinese phones have been targeted, therefore a new piece of software has been designed, which must be uploaded by over 25 million Chinese phone users, if they still need their mobiles to be functional.

Even if the users in question are now pretty much forced to upload this software, the app was designed so that it will be completely functional on all such Chinese cells. Therefore, users do not have to discard their current devices; they only need to install the application.

Focusing even more thoroughly on the development of this recognition software, called IMEI, it is actually made up of a 15-digit code, which presents different content for each of the mobiles in question, thus allowing operators to recognize all legal users. For those using all zeros or unrecognizable codes, all incoming or made calls will not be processed, thus rendering those mobiles pretty useless. Moreover, should such a mobile be stolen or lost, it could be identified anywhere in the world if its owners offer operators the 15-digit code.

In India this event development is much praised, but officials are asking for time in order to inform all users and also to convince as many as possible of the advantages such an application brings forth. COAI’s director general TV Ramachandran stated on the matter, “We need time to inform and educate the customer to have this software installed. This software is just being perfected and we will submit this solution to the DoT this week[...]These are genuine citizens who were ignorant about the IMEI number when they bought these handsets — we have to give them an alternative. Customers will have to pay a small fee, maybe about Rs 100, for the software, but this is better than throwing away the handset.”

Telecom companies have been informed that it is now their duty to persuade users to apply to this software since in some areas all users unmarked by the IMEI code will not be enjoying any mobile services whatsoever. In other areas, where a delay has been requested, the deadline has been extended to March or June.