IMEI stands for The International Mobile Equipment Identity. It is a number unique to every GSM and WCDMA and iDEN mobile phone as well as some satellite phones. It is usually found printed on the phone underneath the battery. All mobile phones are assigned a unique 15 digit IMEI code upon production. You can find it by typing *#06# on your handset.
Now you can check the validity of IMEI number of your mobile phone by visiting NumberingPlans and entering your unique 15 digit IMEI code. After entering 15 digit IMEI code you will get the information regarding manufacturer, model type, and country of approval of a handset.
By the way if you are wondering about the of need of checking the validity of IMEI number of a mobile phone, then here comes the very simple answer:
Suppose your mobile phone with a valid IMEI number is stolen, now if you know your valid IMEI number you can call your network provider and instruct them to “ban” the phone using its IMEI number. Now IMEI number is generally valid when you buy a mobile phone through a cellular operator, but in some other cases there are chances that your newly bought mobile phone may have invalid IMEI number. So its always better to check the validity of your mobile phone’s IMEI number.
Shahab khan is a Tech blogger from India & a founder of VirginTech. He blogs about Technology, internet, Social media, computer tips & tricks and Web 2.0. 
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks a lot buddy this is really great info!
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
May 9th, 2009 at 3:00 am
Welcome to VirginTech Arpit!
[Reply]
Nice stuff buddy!
[Reply]
Will definitely check it out!
Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
By entering your IMEI number on a website to get it “checked”: you may be giving away a valid IMEI number that may later be used for illegal purposes?
I think I will put up a website and ask people to send me their Social Security Number so that I can “check it” for them, just to be sure they have a valid number?
Jack
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
May 23rd, 2009 at 12:16 am
First of all Welcome To VirginTech Jack!
Jack ..What you are saying is correct definitely, but numbering plans is quite a old, secure and reputed site so there should not be any problem like you mentioned.
So just don’t worry at all, its all secure there!
Btw thanks jack for your great comment.
[Reply]
This is exactly the info i was looking for.
I saw a couple of sites wanting to charge money for the same but i am glad i popped up at your site.
Thanks again.
[Reply]
Thanks for the info. was of a great help
Mine’s gotta valid imei Yuppieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
November 19th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
You’re Welcome Sri!
I am glad that you’ve found this info useful
Thanks for your comment!
[Reply]
Please check the my imei number i.e. 356387020003283.Is it valid or not.
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
November 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Hey ramesh thanks for commenting.
BTW ramesh i think you have committed a mistake while noting your IMEI number. Check it once more to get the valid IMEI number. See this link: How to find Valid IMEI number. Once you get your IMEI please don’t post it publicly anywhere. Simply headover to this link to check IMEI validity.
In case you are still confused do let me know, i will be delighted to help you.
Cheers
[Reply]
hello,
i want to know about my phone’s IMEI no.
when i type *#06# i didn’t get my IMEI no.
so please send me all information about how to get IMEI no. on my phone.iI send the message to 121 but i didn’t get any information about IMEI. so please help me.
thank you
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
November 29th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Hi Neha!, thanks for your comment.
I’ll advise you to visit this link: How to find valid IMEI , here i have discussed 5 methods to find out a valid IMEI.
If you have already gone through that article and you didn’t find the solution there then just tell me which company’s phone you are using(nokia, samsung ,motorola etc)?
This info will help me to figure out your phone’s IMEI.
[Reply]
Does it always show Europe as the primary market even if you didn’t buy it from Europe and you don’t live in Europe?
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
November 30th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
Well subhadip that may be due to the fact that mobile phone’s primary manufacturing is done there in Europe. You may buy your phone from any part of the world but phone’s manufacturing is basically done only on few selected places. May be this is the reason why Europe is shown up as a primary market for most of the phone.
BTW i don’t know whether it always show europe as primary market or not.
[Reply]
how can I get back my stollen phone
[Reply]
well, imei numbers really help if the mobiles are stolen – in such cases they can be used by the mobile company to shut off the mobile forever – provided the mobile is equiped with the facility.
[Reply]
@hs, Thanks for the pretty useful input
[Reply]
Thanks for this information
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
December 16th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
you’re welcome irfan
[Reply]
WOW dude you rock this looks some kind of Support center where agents are answering all you questions.
Great Correct Information YOU ROCK
Keep it up
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
January 27th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
Thanks for those wonderful words Hasan!
I am glad you find this info useful
[Reply]
hi !!!!!
but i dont no imei plz snd details about that
[Reply]
Hi Shahab
First of all thanks for the useful input.
I got New fly mobile, on 19/12/09. I enquired with the IMEI number and got an IMEI num, but i didnt see whether it is active or not.
After 1 month now one of my Network providers send me a service stating that they will block the handset. I have gone through the article and entered the IMEI number. Got message that, Missing IMEI number. I entered the model number and the Brand and all.
Now, the question is will the IMEI number will be valid?? and When will i get the information regarding this.
Update me on this.
Regards,
Harish Kumar
ghkumar0413ATgmailDOTcom
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Hey harish, have you checked the validity of your IMEI number from the above link?
If you have checked then what’s the message you get there?
BTW you said that you entered the model number, brand and other stuff too to get information about imei validity, but i would say there is no need to provide all this info. In fact You just need to provide your imei number on the numbering plans link that i gave in the post.
Anyway just let me know what message you are getting from numbering plans link about your IMEI.
[Reply]
Harish Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
@Shahab,
Note: This IMEI number seems to be correct, but we do not have any information on this specific handset. Please add the missing information below.
That is the msg i got when i entered the IMEI Code in numbering plans…
With that A box asking for the following info appeared
Add missing IMEI information below
IMEI number XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Handset brand-Fly iss present here
Handset model- mine is DS150….
i have added this info…i got a msg and also a call from my provider…today
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
February 5th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Well Harish i have doubt on the validity of your phone’s IMEI number. BTW as you mentioned that you bought this fly mobile on 19/12/09. So it would be in a warranty period presently. My advice to you would be that you should go to any authorised fly service center and tell them about this IMEI number problem. They will definitely get back to you on this and will do something (free of charge) for this because your phone is in warranty period. It would be much better if you approach the same fly mobile showroom from where you bought this phone.
Anyway if your cellphone has been blocked for invalid imei you may find this useful http://virgintech.org/how-to-reactivate-mobile-phone-blocked-due-to-invalid-imei.html
Do let me know in case you need any other help from my side.
Hi Sahab, I got a nokia mobile on ebay. The label under the battery says “Nokia” but the usual “Nokia Corporation” or “Made by Nokia” note is missing. I have checked the IMEI number on numberplanning web site and it gives the correct information of the make and model of the phone. The software and other features also look to be genuine. This phone is made in Korea for the Taiwan market. The phone looks very genuine and does not appear to be a cheap imitation. My question is if it is possible to change IMEI number between handsets. I have a small doubt that this mobile may be fake. Any suggestion please.
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
March 4th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
Well subramani …first of all thanks for commenting on VirginTech.
Actually IMEI number is unique for every mobile handset. So it is something that is not transferable among mobile handsets, i mean you can’t interchange the IMEI of two handsets. Every IMEI points to one unique mobile handset.
BTW subramani ..why do you want to change the IMEI no? ..,I don’t get the idea behind this!
[Reply]
Subramani Reply:
March 5th, 2010 at 12:25 am
Hi Sahab, that was an instant reply thank you. I do not want to change the IEMI number. The last but one sentence of my previous message “I have a small doubt that this mobile may be fake”, I had a doubt that the IEMI number of an original Nokia Handset may have been changed to the handset I have received. This will make a fake set seem genuine and it will show as genuine on the numbering plan website. I hope that I am I clear now.
Subramani
[Reply]
Shahab Reply:
March 5th, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Ok you mean to say that that your phone might be a fake one but it is having a valid IMEI (which is actually the imei of a genuine handset according to you).
Well subramani i am not 100% sure whether this is possible or not but most probably its not possible. But if you doubt that this might be possible. I would advice you to the following:
1: There are several ways to find your phones IMEI, visit this link http://virgintech.org/how-to-find-a-valid-imei-number-of-a-cellphone-mobile-security.html and find the imei from all the methods. IMEI obtained from all the methods should be same irrespective of the method you used to find it out.
2: You might know this one but i still want to mention that never ever post your IMEI publicly because it might increase the risk of IMEI duplication.
3: As you mentioned that MADE BY NOKIA note is missing i would suggest you to enquire for this at the nokia showroom (in your case its a ebay dealer contact him for this )from where you bought your phone.
I hope the points above would help you. Anyway please do let me know if you need any other help.