U.S. Carriers Agree to Build National Database of Stolen Phones

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Posted April 10, 2012 at 4:30pm by iClarified

The major wireless carriers in the U.S. have agreed to a deal with the government which will see the creation of a central database of stolen cellphones in an attempt to slow the surge of mobile phone thefts.

The database, which the wireless companies will build and maintain, will be designed to track phones that are reported as lost or stolen and deny them voice and data service. The idea is to reduce crime by making it difficult or impossible to actually use a stolen device, reducing resale value.

Currently, Verizon Communications Inc. and Sprint Nextel Corp. block phones that are reported stolen from being reactivated. AT&T Inc. and Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile USA don't. All four have agreed to be part of the new database.

"New technologies create new risks," said Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC. "We wanted to find a way to reduce the value of stolen smartphones."

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U.S. Carriers Agree to Build National Database of Stolen Phones

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Too Far - April 10, 2012 at 6:02pm

Great. Let's get the government involved in another area they have NO business being.

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RJSaud - April 10, 2012 at 5:56pm

How about exporting those devices to other countries selling/using them in international carriers? maybe an exchange can be done with "their" stolen devices which will be White flagged in the US. ConclusiÃ³n: the crime won't be easily stop, but anything done to reduce it, it's welcome. Apple should ask for a password before turning the cell phone off. This way, IT gives the owner enough time to Find IT with their tracking App.

J-SMOOTH - April 10, 2012 at 5:37pm

If there's a will there's a way. People will always find a way to beat the system. That's life =/

fasterarrow - April 12, 2012 at 5:13am

I agreed. There was a time when no cellphone was able to be unlock, now, there is. There will be a time when lost/stolen cellphones wont be able to be utilize. Guess what? THEY WILL BE!

SJ - April 10, 2012 at 5:26pm

Wish consumers have access to this list, so that we can verify if a used phone we buy is listed as stolen.

James - April 10, 2012 at 8:00pm

Or worse, reported stolen after sold. That'd blow