Customers throng a store in Bistupur to get the IMEI number installed in their mobile handsets. (Bhola Prasad)

Jamshedpur, Dec. 1: Harried mobile subscribers today rushed to select outlets to get International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers implanted in their handsets.

The rush today was of those subscribers whose SIM cards had been locked following the expiry of a deadline set by the government. The government had set November 30 as deadline for installation of IMEI numbers on handsets.

The IMEI, a unique 15-digit code for each mobile phone, allows security agencies to track a specific user. However, thousands of handsets sold in the grey market do not have the all important number.

In the steel city, four outlets — Millennium Communications, Confidence and GSM Haat at Bistupur and Mobile Solutions at Sakchi — were earmarked for the purpose. The four outlets installed IMEI numbers in the handsets of about 2000 subscribers.

Owners of Confidence, the largest seller of Chinese and Taiwanese made mobile sets, informed that more than 700 customers had installed IMEI numbers from the shop over the last three days.

“The rush increased from today, as the deadline of the Indian government to get IMEI numbers installed in handsets ended on Monday night. Today around 70 customers, whose phones had been locked due to absence of IMEI numbers in their handsets came to our shop,” said Aftab Alam, owner of Confidence.

He said that the rush of customers would only increase in the days to come.

“The customers can easily check the IMEI numbers on their handsets. Handsets of Sigmatel and Longtel mobiles manufactured in China, which are more than one year old, do not have the numbers,” said Ajay Parik, owner of GSM Haat.

Besides, the handsets that allow use of two SIM cards at a time also require new IMEI numbers. According to rules, IMEI numbers cannot be identical.

“The dual SIM card phone has a single IMEI number which creates confusion for the service provider. Owners of such handsets can go to any authorised shop and get their IMEI number installed through an easy procedure,” added Yuvraj, owner of Millennium Communications.

Mobile Standards Alliance of India (MSAI) is an authorised body which carries out a Genuine IMEI Implant (GII) programme.

All the authorised outlets have been provided exclusive software, GII tools to install identification numbers in handsets. The process takes about 10 minutes.

The Director General of Foreign Trade in April this year issued a notification banning the use of handsets without IMEI numbers with immediate effect. The Department of Telecom (DoT) also asked operators to disconnect services to handsets that do not have the IMEI number.