Lost your phone? Very soon people will be able to block, track mobile phones with new system. Details here
2 min read . Updated: 15 May 2023, 05:52 AM IST
PremiumThe new CEIR system is likely to be launched this week. As per the tentative date, an official hinted that the CEIR system would be launched on 17 May
The Centre is coming out with a new system that will allow the common man to block and track their lost mobile phones.
Technology development body Centre for Department of Telematics (CDoT) has been running the pilot of the CEIR system in some of the telecom circles, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and North East region, and the system is now ready for pan-India deployment, an official from Department of Telecommunication said.
The new system is likely to be launched this week. As per the tentative date, an official hinted that the CEIR system would be launched on 17 May.
"CEIR system is scheduled for pan-India launch on May 17," the official said.
How people will track lost mobile phones?
This would be possible because of the IMEI number. Since the government has already made it mandatory to disclose the IMEI -- a 15-digit unique numeric identifier -- of mobile devices before their sale in India. As a result, the mobile networks will have access to the list of approved IMEI numbers which will check the entry of any unauthorised mobile phones on their network.
Telecom operators and the CEIR system will have visibility into the IMEI number of the device and the mobile number linked to it, and the information is being used in some states to track your lost or stolen mobiles through CEIR.
Usually, miscreants change IMEI number of stolen mobile phones which prevents tracking and blocking of such handsets. Now under the system, the CEIR will be able to block any cloned mobile phones on the network with the help of various databases.
Why the Centre is allowing the common man to block and track their lost phones?
The basic purpose of CEIR is to ease reporting of stolen and lost mobiles and block the use of mobiles all over the country. This will discourage the theft of mobile phones, enable the tracing of the stolen and lost mobiles to the police, detection of cloned or counterfeit mobiles, restrict the use of such cloned mobiles, as well as protect the interest of the consumers by making them aware of the information related to fake and cloned mobile phones.
Apple already has a system to track lost mobile phones with the help of Apple ID. However, the system could be a gamechanger for Android users.
Recently, Karnataka Police recovered and handed over more than 2,500 lost mobile phones to their owners using the CEIR system.
With the new system in place, it will be futile to use stolen mobile phones.