In a latest development, the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) has appealed the government to impose a ban on all mobile phones, which are presently with cloned IMEI numbers.

The authority believes that mobile phones without IMEI number or cloned numbers are severe threat to national security as they could not be tracked down.

Reports suggest that there are about 25 million unbranded mobile handsets in Indian market, without genuine International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) is a unique 15-digit code that identifies a mobile. The IMEI no. can be used to track the mobile like in which area the handset is present right now.

It should be noted that, ICA has already urged mobile consumers to check for genuine IMEI number, before purchasing any new or old handsets.

The department of telecommunication (DoT) plans to ban fake mobile phones from December 1st 2009, phones that do not have any legitimate International Mobile Equipment Identify (IMEI) number.