Canadian carriers launch centralized database of stolen phones

In the latest installment of Grand Theft Mobile (TM): Canadian phone thieves face a major hurdle now that several carriers in the country have launched a centralized blacklist of stolen devices. Canada's Protect Your Data initiative combines collections of pilfered gadgets' IMEIs -- a unique identifier that most phones have -- not only from each participating carrier in the country, but also from the US carriers' unified database. The joint effort will allow the companies to cross-check against everyone's rosters and refuse to activate any GSM, HSPA, HSPA+ or LTE device that appears in them. While only phones reported stolen or lost starting September 30th will automatically be listed, carriers have the option to add devices lost before that. While only phones reported stolen starting September 30th will automatically be listed, carriers have the option to add anything lost before that. It might not bring people's phones home, but at least those no-good snatchers will wish they'd stolen something simpler instead, like wallets, or cars.

[Thanks, Mackenzie]

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

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Source: CBCNews, Protect Your Data