Telecom firms plan to make stolen mobile phones unusable
Friday 12 October 2012
Telecom firms and the justice ministry have reached agreement on making mobile phones totally unusable if they are reported stolen, in an effort to cut down phone-related mugging.
Currently, phone firms only block sim cards when thefts are reported and phones can be started up again if the thief uses a new card. According to RTL news, phones are stolen in 60% of muggings.
Phone firms will need the unique serial number of the mobile phone in order to stop it working again, Nos says.
KPN, Vodafone and T-Mobile have signed up to the agreement. Belgium, Germany and Britain have already introduced blocks on stolen phones.
A good idea? Have your say using the comment box below.
© DutchNews.nl
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Not only they should block the phones, but also they should report the location of the phone to the officials.
By Chan Chur | 12 October 2012 7:29 AMGreat idea.
By dork | 12 October 2012 9:14 AMThis capability has been possible for over two decades. The problem is that mobile phone operators in most of the world refused to implement it. I can imagine why: it cuts down on their revenue.
By Me | 12 October 2012 9:21 AMFantastic idea, and I second Chan Chur's comment about tracking the phone. The police should track the coordinates of the phone and bust into that home to search for it, and likely other stolen items. I've read in the papers (ok, online) that this has happened several times when looking for an iPad. Especially if it was taken by force or by breaking into a car/home. Track it and arrest them!It may seem like a petty crime to some, but nip crime in the early stages, before it becomes worse later in life!
By DH | 12 October 2012 12:00 PMI just assumed this was already the case in the Netherlands. When I used to work for Orange in the UK 10 years ago, we were already able to blacklist handsets when they were stolen.
By Ajw | 12 October 2012 12:19 PMThis has been in operation for years with contract mobiles.
By Donaugh | 12 October 2012 5:33 PMThe user can set their own code so the phone will only accept the SIM which is installed at that time. The code can be removed beforehand if you wish to change providers.
Its not a great idea, in the UK operators such as o2 abuse their power to ban a phone to include issues such a being late with a bill payment.
I bought a phone off Ebay which I checked the IMEI number was neither reported lost or stolen and it was clear. However when I received the phone it was blocked. I rang O2 and they refused to tell me why. When I contacted the police they confirmed it was not lost or stolen but yet O2 had blocked the phone. Come to your own conclusions....
By Bad idea open to abuse by KPN etc | 12 October 2012 7:41 PMWhat's next, bicycles?
By The visitor | 12 October 2012 8:48 PMA phone can only be tracked by triangulating from cellphone towers; the accuracy is to within about 100 meters. there could be 20 apartments in that zone.
By Mark Holden | 13 October 2012 3:25 PMThe ipad is different, it has a gps receiver in it that's accurate to about 5 meters.
Of course, great initiative. Only worry is that the low-life's that were busy stealing phones will turn their lazy,cheat-rather-than-work efforts to an alternative source of income!
By Stewart | 14 October 2012 9:10 PMThis is very good idea because now a days smart phones costs high. It is better to locate rather than disabling.
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