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Vodafone launches six-point plan to combat mobile phone crimeThe new measures will enhance Vodafone’s existing policy of immediately barring SIM cards in all phones reported lost or stolen, disabling any other user from being able to make calls using that customer’s phone credit or charging calls to their account. Vodafone's "Fighting Mobile Crime" plan will immediately address stolen Pay as you Talk phones, which make up the majority of phones on Vodafone’s network. The 6 elements of the plan are as follows: Upgraded SIM barring system: Any SIM card inserted into a stolen Vodafone handset will automatically be barred from use in any handset on the Vodafone network. This system will extend over time to cover any handset on any UK network. This will be introduced for Pay as you Talk phones by the end of February and include Vodafone Contract phones by the end of June. Establishing an Equipment Identity Register (EIR): Investment in an EIR will be brought forward. From September, Vodafone will introduce a system able to identify and track stolen mobile phones both for today’s handsets and for next generation phones and devices. Improving IMEI security: Working through the Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum – MICAF - with mobile Manufacturers to improve IMEI (coded handset identity) security for current and next generation of phones and devices. Blacklist sharing across all operators: Vodafone will be working with other Operators, through MICAF, to ensure sharing of blacklists of stolen mobile phones towards establishing an industry-wide shared system to combat mobile phone theft and fraud. Legislative changes: Lobbying Government to introduce legislation making it a criminal offence to change IMEIs. "Take the Initiative" crime prevention campaign: Targeted at all mobile phone customers in the UK – Phone Security Marking schemes, leaflets and advice for all users available at Vodafone’s 360 High Street stores; advice and information for Vodafone customers delivered with customer bills and through customer magazines. Gavin Darby, Chief Operating Officer of Vodafone UK, commented: "Vodafone takes the issues of customer safety and mobile phone theft and fraud very seriously. We are introducing an enhanced set of initiatives immediately, which incorporates system upgrades, improved cross-industry working and a campaign to drive greater awareness amongst all users to help combat the theft of mobile phones. In addition, we are proposing legislative changes to the Government. We want Vodafone customers to be confident they are buying into a package of security measures when they select our network." Home Office Crime Reduction Minister, John Denham, welcomed the move: "I am delighted that Vodafone has agreed to take a big step forward in protecting their customers by announcing that they will stop stolen Vodafone handsets being used on their network, extending this to all networks in due course. This will make their phones less attractive for criminals to steal since they will be much more difficult to re-use. I commend them for the action that they have taken." NOTES TO EDITORS: EIR – An Equipment Identity Register is a database within the network that contains details of handset serial numbers (IMEIs). The database can be used to record details of stolen handsets and the network can be configured to periodically check that the equipment in use by a customer has not been added to the list of stolen handsets. If this check indicates that the handset has been reported stolen then the handset is permanently denied access to the network. IMEI – The International Mobile Equipment Identifier is a 15-digit number that is programmed into the handset by the manufacturer. The IMEI can be found printed on a label where the battery is inserted or by dialling *#06# on the handset keypad. SIM – The Subscriber Identity Module, is the smart card or ‘gold chip’ that is inserted into the handset in order to gain access to the network. A SIM can be moved from one handset to another enabling the user to transport their phone number and list of contact numbers. MICAF – Mobile Industry Crime Action Forum, set up by the industry to represent mobile operators, mobile manufacturers and mobile industry specialists. MICAF spokesperson is Jack Wraith on 0208 778 9864. Vodafone UK has been rated best network for customer satisfaction and network quality. In November 2001, Vodafone UK came top in Oftel’s quarterly residential survey with 98 per cent of mobile customers surveyed using the Vodafone network being satisfied with the overall service provided by the company. In the same month, Vodafone UK came first in Oftel’s nationwide drive-around call success rate survey, achieving an average of 97.4 per cent - topping the charts in six out of nine UK regions, with the biggest leads of nearly 2 per cent being recorded in Scotland and the South East. Vodafone UK has over 13.1 million customers, the largest share of the corporate mobile communications market and is part of world’s largest mobile community. The Newbury-based company offers mobile voice and data communications including GPRS, which was introduced to the corporate market in April 2001 and consumers in June 2001. The Vodafone UK network covers 99 per cent of the population and transmits approximately nine million text messages every day. Vodafone UK was the world’s first mobile operator to introduce international roaming, and currently offers its customers roaming on 304 networks in 130 countries. www.vodafone.com
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