Law enforcement agencies and the telecommunications industry met yesterday to discuss the growing problem of mobile phone theft and agreed on the blocking of IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers - which are unique to each phone and are transmitted along with phone call details on telco networks - as one solution.
"Law enforcement agencies right around the country and carriers have agreed blocking IMEI numbers is probably the best way to go," Detective Inspector Alan Keane of NSW Police told ZDNet Australia.
Keane admitted that this is something law enforcement agencies have been hounding the reluctant mobile carriers to do for years. "I think it was only a matter of time," he said, adding that he believes issues arising out of the UK - where mobile phone thefts have been becoming increasingly violent - have caused a bit of movement over here.
Only last weekend a shooting in Sydney's Liverpool occurred, leaving one Sydneysider shot dead over a mobile phone dispute, Keane pointed out.
Keane sees IMEI blocking as being -critical to the whole process" of reducing mobile phone theft and his aim is to be the -lead area in the world as far as this crime reduction strategy goes".
"The telcos like to think it's part of a larger practice," he said.
Ross Monaghan, of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) stressed that IMEI was just a small part of the solution and pointed out that yesterday's working party agreed on a three-point plan that included IMEI blocking, as well as greater public awareness and regulatory reform.
According to Monaghan there are a -lot of hurdles" for the industry to get over before IMEI blocking happens. On the other hand, he said it was fair to say that we would start to see the end results of some of yesterday's initiatives -within months".
IMEI blocking would be implemented as quickly as possible, but didn't put a deadline on it.
"Blocking alone will not stamp out the theft of mobile phones," Monaghan said, adding that the industry would like to see the tampering of IMEI numbers made illegal for instance.
"The police need to work with us as well. and they acknowledge that," he said. -They have agreed to stand side-by-side with us on this issue."
Funny that the telcos are willing to come to the party now, only AFTER they have stopped providing contract based handsets. Before it wasn't in their interest to block stolen phones, as contracts would still be paid out either way. Now it is a valid selling point for them. It still won't stop theft for the 3 hours of calls made with your sim card before it is blocked (usually all that happens with stolen phones), or having the phone nicked for a 'spare' battery.