All you need to know about fake phones - According to the Communications Commission of Kenya statistics, 9.39 per cent of the 25.2 million subscribers in Kenya are using counterfeit phones. To stem usage of such gadgets, the regulator has teamed up with industry players to switch them off by the end of the year. Here's a look at the case of counterfeit phones.

Identifying counterfeits

Fake phones can be identified by a keen observation of their packaging, branding and software composition.

With many fake phones mimicking established brands like Nokia, iPhones, Samsung and BlackBerry, consumers are advised to pay attention to the content of the phone, besides the physical appearance.

The price tag is also another indicator of authenticity. Most fake phones retail at astonishingly cheap prices compared with the real stuff.

Fake handsets either have an invalid IMEI number or have re-programmed or duplicate codes. The IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is a 15-digit unique code for identifying a specific phone on a GSM network.

It is usually written on a label beneath the battery of the phone. The mobile user can also locate the IMEI by simply dialling *#06#. To check whether the number is genuine, a mobile user can consult a service provider or check with the data-base in the international numbering plan.

The tricky part of using the IMEI for identifying fake phones is the ease with which the code can be re-programmed or duplicated by tech-savvy crooks or counterfeit gadget manufacturers.

In most countries, including Kenya, it's illegal to tamper with the IMEI number.

Mobile phone companies use the IMEI code to identify authentic gadgets and to tackle malpractices like theft and other illegal activities.

In the case of theft, a subscriber can have the lost gadget traced or blocked by an operator with the aid of the IMEI code. It's worth-noting that the IMEI code is stored on the software of the phone and not in SIM cards.

Dangerous trade

Counterfeit mobile phones deny patent owners the benefits of intellectual rights and exposes users to risks ranging from health, security and environmental.

The trouble with fake phones is that they might not have met the desired standards during manufacturing.

One of the most critical aspects is the level of radiation emitted by the gadget. In normal circumstances, mobile phones have specified SAR (surface absorption rate) which indicates the amount of radiation a user is exposed to.

Due to their equivocal standards, fake phones can have abnormally high levels of SAR, thus endangering the lives of users.

Mobile handsets are RF emitters and receivers. A higher level of exposure to their radiation is considered by the World Health Organisation as carcinogenic.

Mobile phones which fall beyond the stipulated levels of SAR are a health hazard. The SAR level set by the European Union is 2w/kg. There are chances of fake phones having higher levels of SAR.

There is still another hazard with fake phones at the component level. Genuine electronic gadgets are designed in compliance to RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances) act set by the European Union.

A declaration of RoHS compliance implies that the gadget is within the stipulated requirements. A deviation, which is characteristic of fake phones, means a higher risk of environmental impact that can lead to adverse effects on human life, especially if poorly disposed of after their end of life.

Perhaps the most notable drawback of fake phones is the financial losses encountered by individuals and the state at large.

Some fake phones have unpredictably short lives, thus prompting the user to incur extra costs during replacement. Although fakes might spot a tantalising cheap price tag, the unforeseen trouble lies in their durability.

The financial strain on counterfeits goes beyond the consumer.

It is estimated that fake mobiles cost the economy approximately Sh3.2 billion annually.

Generally, the government loses Sh6 billion while local manufacturers incur losses of over Sh30 billion due unscrupulous trade in counterfeits.

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers notes that counterfeits are a source of unprecedented losses to producers of genuine products.

Esmond Shahonya

The Nation/20/09/2011