For Indian Mobiles, Obtain IMEI Else No Service.

Got a cheap 3G touchphone from China? You may not be able to use it again, in India.

Starting today, Mobile Service Providers’ Association (MSPA) of India will run a cross-reference of all legitimate IMEI numbers.If the mobile user does not have an IMEI (international standard identification number) the mobile carrier will not provide any service.

The Indian government warned people to register bandit phones and obtain a valid IMEI number. Failing to do so, some 25 million bandit phones might go dead today.India’s telecom authorities are banning bandit phones, as these phones circumvent testing fees, licensing fees and taxes to authorities. Needless to mention money and power are a major reason for this action.

Similarly, in China there are about 100 million “Shanzhai” phones in use.China will have to find interesting ways to ban such large number of handsets.