"David Taylor" <djtaylor@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.199eefbd875dae4c989ab3@news.cis.dfn.de...
> > Is there a standard or operator independent way to identify a mobile
phone
> > or a mobile SIM card. I am surprised to learn that there is no such
thing,
> > or I am a wrong?
> >
> > Wireless environments should be designed to minimize user input.
Entering
> > authentication information, every time using a service does not make
sense.
> > Even more knowing that PKI is available on the SIM card.
>
> Well maybe, but on the other hand, posession of a phone doesn''t imply
> ownership. How would it work if my bank authenticated my by my phone
> number or sim card and the phone was stolen?
>
> Similarly, offering a certificate (which is an option) might suffer the
> same problem without additional credentials being offered.
>
> All in though, I think you''re in the wrong newsgroup to pursue this I
> suspect. :)
I agree he is in the wrong news group for this question, he should try one
of the cellular or pcs news groups. But as for identifying a mobile phone,
yes it is possible, and it is done via the HLR (home location register).
But you would be hard pressed to have a wireless phone company giving out
that information to anyone other than the owner of the phone in question.
>
> David.