Shortly after the CWTA announced that its members had launched a national blacklist of lost and stolen wireless devices, WIND Mobile announced that its network is also now integrated with the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) database maintained by the GSMA.
The principle is the same. WIND Mobile checks new subscription requests against the IMEI database and will not activate any device with an IMEI that has been reported as lost or stolen.
“This new system offers wireless subscribers a tremendously enhanced level of protection, by essentially making stolen handsets useless to the thief,” said Antecol. “This is an important step forward in the fight against mobile phone theft and unauthorized use.”
WIND Mobile withdrew from the CWTA earlier this year (along with Mobilicity and Public Mobile), hence the separate announcement.
WIND Mobile Launches IMEI Database Blacklist Giving Customers Enhanced Protection Against Mobile Phone Theft
New technology enables immediate shut-down of lost or stolen handsets to protect subscribers against UNAUTHORIZED USE
TORONTO, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – Sept. 30, 2013) – WIND Mobile announced today that its network is integrated with the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) database maintained by the GSMA. Customers now have access to a service that renders any handset inoperable in the event of a reported loss or theft, as part of a new protection program.
“Over the past few months, we have worked very hard to implement this next level of protection to our customers,” said Ed Antecol, VP Regulatory, WIND Mobile. “This is just another example of the high calibre of innovative service that we offer to WIND Mobile subscribers.”
Each handset carries its own unique IMEI identification number and WIND Mobile can now quickly render inoperable any handset which is reported lost or stolen by listing the handset in this international database. If a missing handset is subsequently recovered, it can be easily reactivated at the subscriber’s request.
“This new system offers wireless subscribers a tremendously enhanced level of protection, by essentially making stolen handsets useless to the thief,” said Antecol. “This is an important step forward in the fight against mobile phone theft and unauthorized use.”
In addition to the ability to disable handsets reported stolen or lost, WIND Mobile also checks any new subscription request against the IMEI database prior to activation – any mobile phone whose IMEI identification number is placed on the lost or stolen list by participating Canada and US carriers will not be activated. This presents yet another roadblock to phone thieves trying to make use of stolen handsets.
About WIND Mobile
WIND Mobile is dedicated to improving the Canadian wireless experience by offering customers simple and transparent plans, including real unlimited voice/data/text with no-term contracts and no hidden fees. Committed to becoming the country’s fourth national carrier, WIND has more than 620,000 happy customers in Canada and is a part of Amsterdam-based VIMPELCOM Ltd., a global company with over 200 million customers. Learn more about WIND Mobile at www.windmobile.ca.