Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Latest News 25 Sept 2008
Latest News 25 Sept 2008
Bangalore: The prices of these swanky mobile phone handsets loaded with the latest
features are attractively low. But we could pay a high price, for these China mobiles, as
they are better known, are the new terror tools.
Following the series of bomb blasts across the country, the Intelligence Bureau
(IB) zeroed in on these handsets and last month recommended to the Union home
ministry and department of telecommunications (DoT) to ban them. It’s because these
handsets, recovered from some terror suspects, did not have the International Mobile
Equipment Identity (IMEI) number and consequently gave no details of SIM cards used
in it. Apparently, terrorists have switched over to such handsets which can be discarded
without any hassles and without fear of call transactions being traced.
How exactly does the IMEI number work? Every branded mobile phone comes
with a standard 15-digit or 17-digit IMEI number. This number is registered with the
GSM service provider once the handset becomes active when a SIM card is inserted.
In case the handset is stolen, even if the SIM card is changed, the police can
block the handset by using the IMEI number and even retrieve details from recovered
handsets. Even CDMA mobile phones have an electronic serial number equivalent to
the IMEI number.
Bangalore City Crime Branch (CCB) officials, who often raid outlets selling such
handsets, say: ‘‘it is very difficult to extract details from such handsets. Though these
‘Chinese mobiles’ are supposed to have genuine IMEI numbers, they are either fake or
several phones have the same IMEI number, making it impossible to find out any
details.’’
Interestingly, most of such mobile phones are not really made in China. They are
assembled in the country, mainly in Delhi and Mumbai and then sold in most cities
throughout the country.
These Chinese handsets have become very popular in the city as they have
features mostly available only on high end phones. While genuine high-end phones with
several options and features range between Rs 10,000 and Rs 18,000, these phones
come for even Rs 3,500 with the same features.
One can buy them at several markets like National Market, Hong Kong Bazaar
in Gandhinagar and Dubai Plaza near Brigade Road. Shopkeepers say these phones
appeal to several people because in terms of looks and finish they are very similar to
branded high-end phones. Dealers selling these handsets say that most customers are
happy because there are hardly any complaints.
According to CCB officials, selling these phones is illegal as most handsets don’t
come with any documents. The phones are locally made and sold without any receipt or
additional tax.
Less noisy cars could be tricking a driver to think he is driving slower than he
really is, according to Australian researchers. Mark Horswill and Annaliese Plooy of
Queensland university report their findings in a journal ‘Perception’. The researchers
found that change in noise shifted people’s speed perception. “When the noise in the
car is made quieter, people think they’re going about 5kmph slower than they would
otherwise,” Horswill said.