The IMEI-less Chinese phone saga obtains a new turn yesterday when the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) asked the government to oblige a ban on all strategy with cloned IMEI numbers.

As most of you might be conscious, the 15-digit IMEI number is a legal obligation on all GSM cellphones. Unbranded Chinese handsets, however, do not approach with IMEI numbers and in some cases, approach with spoofed IMEIs that really belong to other phones. The ICA is calling for the ban of all such handsets, as they have a serious safety threat. The long saga concerning the ban of Chinese cellphones, the unbranded ones has been going on for fine over a year now with no resolution in sight The ICA, on November 19, asked the government to forbid cell phones with cloned International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number a 15-digit code that recognizes a mobile phone.

ICA President Pankaj Mohindroo told journalists about the threats obtainable by such handsets. Mohindroo said, "These handsets may pose possible threat to the national security. We discover many cell phones with cloned number in the grey market, which generally sell cheap imported ones."