VERTU replica owners and owners of cloned phones are on some occasions met with problem of their brand new phones displaying “SIM REGISTRATION FAILED”. Blocked and unregistered IMEIs are usually the cause.

The International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI (pronounced /aɪˈmiː/) 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. It can be found by typing *#06# on a handset.

The IMEI number is used by the GSM network to identify valid devices and therefore can be used to stop a stolen phone from accessing the network. For example, if a mobile phone is stolen, the owner can call his or her network provider and instruct them to “ban” the phone using its IMEI number. This renders the phone useless, whether or not the phone’s SIM is changed.

>>>>> Read more at Wikipedia

When VERTU replica phones first came out they had one shared IMEI. The first cases of “SIM REGISTRATION FAILED” popped out in the UK, on the O2 network. Several phones somehow got into the hands of VERTU in the UK (the original manufacturers) and they urged the UK and, most probably Irish network operators to blacklist the IMEI. This resulted in the denial of service for all the replica VERTU phones which shared that same IMEI. VERTU copy owners started to switch to other operators, and some would even work. After a number of these incidents VERTU replica phones started to change IMEIs for the UK, so that O2 and Vodafone would accept them. Even if one phone is somehow siezed by VERTU and its IMEI added to the blacklist – only that one single phone will be rendered useless, all the rest of the replica VERTU owners should be quite safe on any network. UK was not the only country blocking IMEIs, later in 2008 several US replica owners claimed to be having the “SIM REGISTRATION FAILED” issue.

I had a guy from Denmark write to me a few weeks ago, who had a VERTU Constellation replica. His SIM cards (several operators) wouldn’t allow the phone to register on the network. After some e-mails and calls to Danish cellphone operators, we found out that Denmark’s network operators limit the use of international (non-local) cell phones. This means that any foreign IMEI is not accepted by the operators. The IMEI had to be changed to one that seemed local. I suggested that he contact the producer in China and asked him to change the IMEI for him to an IMEI from one of his old NOKIA phones, which worked perfectly on all Danish networks. I’m not sure how he went about this, but I’m sure the problem was solved.

Solving the “SIM REGISTRATION FAILED” issue is quite simple. The phone has to be sent back to have its IMEI changed. That’s what most sellers, re-sellers, producers will tell you. It’s OK if you like in China or Hong Kong. But what if you are located in the UK. Shipping, usually at your own expense, is not cheap and
takes quite a long time. There is another option, though. You can have it changed in your own country.

I’ve done some experimenting with my own Vertu Ascent Ti Ferrari III replica and found out that most mobile phone repair shops that offer phone unlocking are able to change the IMEI on any replica VERTU phone. If you take your replica VERTU to a repair shop – they would most probably tell you that they are not able to do anything with it, because it’s of an unknown origin. Well, I found out the origin, and even the tools that can be used to have your IMEI changed or to chage it yourself.

VERTU replica phones are CECT phones. The model is usually MT 6227. There are several IMEI changing software options out there. But the trick is the cable. The regular USB cable that comes with VERTU replica phones is NOT able to change anything in the software, including the IMEI. You will have to get a special cable or a so-called box. One of the most popular chinese boxes is the Infinity Box (http://www.infinity-box.com/), another is the ET Box (http://www.et-box.net/). It supports the flashing (and IMEI changing) of MTK chip phones and CECT software. VERTU replica phones can be connected up to an Infinity Box or to an ET Box and the IMEI can be changed in seconds. Most mobile repair shops have such boxes. I recommend that you leave this kind of work to professionals at your local mobile phone repair shop and always ask your seller about the warranty terms and conditions and what-if’s before meddling with your VERTU replica.

Thank you for reading. Feel free to comment, ask.
by Timothy Nine

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED OR COPIED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION

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