While phone makers are resisting moves to come up with a unified solution to curb theft of mobile phones, three telecom firms in New Zealand have agreed on a new blacklisting system to stop theft of mobile phone by reducing its street value.

The system involves blacklisting of a phone based on its unique ID, disabling the unit from using the networks of Vodafone, Telecom and 2degrees even if the new owner would use a new SIM card.

Superintendent Steve Christian, national manager of mobility for the New Zealand police, described the joint blacklisting system as a great leap forward. Industry group New Zealand Telecommunications Forum (TCF) launched the system on Monday.

To further strengthen the system, TCF Chief Executive David Stone urged consumers not to buy phone from unregistered dealers.

He explained, quoted by the New Zealand Herald, "If you purchase a stolen mobile phone or other device - even if you think you are buying it legitimately - you may not have any recourse if that device is subsequently blocked, and sp you could end up losing money."

To determine if the phone is blacklisted or not, here is a video.

YouTube/iphoneosunlock

New Zealand has about 4.7 million mobile connections which cover about 97 per cent of the country's population. The three are the major telecom operators for mobile units.

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