IMEI number is important for the same reason as your car’s serial number. Mobile operator can track usage of your mobile phone very fast if it is used in the same network, but police can not track your car so fast. Mobile operator can see if your phone is used by some other user in their network, but if it is used in other operators network then your network operator can not see it.
So why is IMEI number important and useful? If your phone is stolen or lost, you should report it to your operator and police by telling them your MANUFACTURER, MODEL, IMEI number, color, some special recognizable details (if any), place and date where it was stolen and some other circumstances that could help them to find or locate your mobile phone.
Additional option is, to report stolen, lost or found mobile phone online. This is only additional thing you should do to tell everybody about your phone. This does not mean that reporting online is enough and that there is no need to report it to police and operator.
Mobile operators can also use the IMEI number to identify valid subscribers and the type of equipment used in the network. Mobile operator can also disable mobile phone remotely if phone is reported as stolen or lost (and if reporter asked them to disable this phones IMEI). This mobile phone can still be used with other operators all over the world. If you ever find a mobile phone, mobile operator can also recognize owner of the phone by IMEI or SIM card inserted and return phone to his owner.
Read some tips about buying used phone.
Can we findout the buyer/owner by IMEI? because I want to contact the first owner my second-hand phone and ask him to give me the proof of purchase for insurance.
Ihave lost my samsung Dual sim multimedia phone Model no.- GT E2152 and IMEI No. is 356059042629259, Already complaint lodged to my provider and police and got the general diary No. which was 112. I think manufacturer only locked the phone if require. I have every valid proofs with me and can’t lock the phone. can you help?
Sorry, you/we can do nothing with this.
My phone broke after 10 months and when I left it in to be repaired, the shop said that the IMI sticker from the phone was missing and this meant the phone was not under guarantee. I had the box which had the imi number on it. Do you know anything about this situation?
IMEI sticker is like guarantee sticker, if removed no guarantee is available for your phone.
can we repair by inserting imei no , i have same case with nokia lumia 710 my imei no. erases from software ,not working . goes to AIRPORT MODE, i have number . pl help
thanks