Why do they need my IMEI

[titans30dude]

Hi, i just ordered a T-Mobile prepaid SIM card for my Blackberry Bold 9650 and was wondering why when i get the SIM card a sign up they ask for my IMEI #....i am still going to be using verizon on the phone and just switch between networks when i want to...but why do they need my IMEI #?

[StPaulGuRu]

Think of the IMEI as you SSN and the SIM number as your dirvers license. The IMEI is unique to the phone and will never be assigned to another phone. The SIM can be changed as you move carriers.

[titans30dude]

i no what the IMEI is but why do they need it....i can always put the SIM in a different phone so why do they need an IMEI....can't i when i input the information just put 000000000000000?

[syb0rg]

Originally Posted by titans30dude

i no what the IMEI is but why do they need it....i can always put the SIM in a different phone so why do they need an IMEI....can't i when i input the information just put 000000000000000?

Because T-Mobile has to give your phone access to BIS via their network. and they need your IMEI number to give you access. the IMEI can be found by dialing *#06#.

and i doubt very seriously that you'll be able to access BIS via T-Mobile and Verizon.

[titans30dude]

yo i do not want to access BIS thats why i got the prepaid..looks like i will use my IMEI from my old phone that is in the garbage dump....i still have the IMEI so i can use it lol

[StPaulGuRu]

or maybe your phone is stolen and you don't want to give it to them. There's no legitimate reason you wouldn't give them the IMEI off the phone.

My suggestion. Give the phone back to whom you stole it from.

[RWWackoStu]

The BIS links your device to the prepaid sim. You cant use one without tyhe other. Something dosent seem right here. It's not like it's your social security #.

[titans30dude]

yo dude i don't want to give them my imei b/c i am using it on the verizon network also, so i don't want any conflicts between them...i did not steal the phone lol....are you serious?!?!?!?

[titans30dude]

and i do not need BIS that stuff i will use on my verizon account

[NorrisCell]

I'm confused as to why you're worried. Using it on a different carrier won't cause issues. Verizon couldn't care less about the IMEI while the phone is used in the US.

[powerhousevolley]

Originally Posted by titans30dude

Hi, i just ordered a T-Mobile prepaid SIM card for my Blackberry Bold 9650 and was wondering why when i get the SIM card a sign up they ask for my IMEI #....i am still going to be using verizon on the phone and just switch between networks when i want to...but why do they need my IMEI #?

I work for tmobile,, And in your situation its not as important that the imei is correct in the system.. Although its another way that it allows us to pull up the account.. if the imei is in the system and you forget you number we can pull up your account with the IMEI or sim card number... Since it is a prepaid account we don't have very many ways to pull it up since your SS# is not in the system.

I hope that helps.. other than that stop being concerned that its gonna mess up your verizon account and give the imei number for the account.

[titans30dude]

ok thanks guys i am just making shure

[Culex316]

For the record, the IMEI is just an identification number for GSM/UMTS networks (i.e T-mobile, AT&T)

When you're on Verizon, your phone is identified by its ESN Number, something completely different.

[titans30dude]

Originally Posted by Culex316

For the record, the IMEI is just an identification number for GSM/UMTS networks (i.e T-mobile, AT&T)

When you're on Verizon, your phone is identified by its ESN Number, something completely different.

i know that....i was just checking tho

[JNM]

T-Mobile doesn't really need your IMEI. If you were to give the IMEI of a different phone they would not know at that time. However, as soon as you make a call, send a message, do anything with the phone on their network, the IMEI will be in T-Mobile's logs anyway. It really doesn't make a difference whether you tell the CSR though. He could have punched in a generic IMEI to STREAMLINE the process...