How to Track Lost or Stolen Phones Through IMEI Number
IMEI Number Tracking: What is it?
Before you understand the concept of tracking, you have to learn more about IMEI. It’s possible that you are new to all this and you are still wondering what is an IMEI number? If so, then here is our way to explain IMEI in simple words: it’s a unique number assigned to your mobile phone. IMEI stands for International Mobile Station Equipment Identity. Just like every computer has a unique IP, every human has a unique fingerprint and the faces around you are unique, the IMEI number is a set of unique digits assigned to cell phones.
With the number of smartphones and basic phones coming to the market, you may ask this question: what if we run out of numbers? That is never possible, as IMEI numbers are between 15 to 17 digits. If you have a IMEI number that’s 10 digit long, then you have the wrong numbers with you. An IMEI number for every mobile must be at least 15.
Be it a GSM phone or a phone that’s completely new, every device should have IMEI number.
This number is very powerful. Your network carrier can use this number to block the phone completely. Furthermore, your phone’s network carrier can also use their database to track the device.
IMEI Number Tracking: The Benefits Are Endless
There are several advantages of choosing the path of tracking phones through IMEI number. First, this technique works on every device. Whether you have a smartphone that costs more than thousand dollars or a basic handset that has no WiFi or Internet access, IMEI tracking doesn’t rely on the hardware of the cell phone.
Secondly, to be able to find a phone using IMEI number there is no need to install any third-party apps. Most of the smartphones today rely on third-party applications to be tracked remotely. With the use of IMEI number, although you won’t be able to find the exact location, you can still block the device to avoid further misuse.
Another biggest benefit is that using a IMEI tracking software is that it simply works! There is no need to wonder if your Nokia phone can be blocked or whether the new iPhone with a new SIM card is compatible with this technique. As mentioned earlier, the whole process is related to network carrier and has nothing to do with the kind of phone you have.
IMEI Number Tracking: How it Works
Have you ever wondered if we can track IMEI stolen phones? Well, here are the details: when the IMEI number is given to the network carrier, you will be given the option to blacklist or block the phone. The carrier will enter IMEI number of your mobile phone and lookup the details in their IMEI database. This has been accepted universally as the best way to block stolen devices, as the mobile theft has been on the rise.
However, not every country accepts this kind of “phone locking.” In some countries like the UK, changing or unlocking the IMEI number of a phone is against the law. The network carrier has the power to decide whether to lock the phone or not. This is the reason you won’t tonnes of online IMEI trackers that can trace mobile phones at your will.
Be careful with those sites promising free tracking of IMEI numbers as there is always a catch. For example, when one of our reader signed up at a website that promises to track IMEI of iPhone and Android phones for free, he was suggested to pay $39 every month. So unless you choose to pay, stay away from online IMEI tracking solutions.
If potential issues are visible related to the phone of a specific IMEI number, then a block is guaranteed. Over thousands of phones are blocked everyday using this simple method.
Conclusion
IMEIs have its set of limitations. They can be used to block phones and make them completely useless, but on the other hand it doesn’t really help you track the phone’s location on a map. Even with GPS chip installed on the phone, there is no way for you to track mobile phones using the IMEI number. Depending on your country, even blocking IMEIs may be impossible, which certainly crushes your hopes of keeping your phone’s important data secure.
By following the right procedure, you may have luck in recovering the lost or stolen phone. Nonetheless, mobile IMEI no tracking technique has been in use for a number of years.