6

In telephony, an IMSI identifies a SIM card and, hence, a user. An IMEI identifies the device itself.

If an Android device does not physically have a SIM card slot, does it still have an IMEI? The documentation is not clear on this.

[Update] Since I don't have access to such a device, would someoen be so kind as to test it programatically? Just add call to GetDeviceId() into the code of an existing app. Thanks a 1,000,.000

Mawg says reinstate Monica
  • 634
  • 3
  • 12
  • 28
  • Well, nope I don't think that a telephone that doesn't have a SIM card will posses IMEI number as there's no need of IMEI number over it. IMEI itself stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity, and I guess its only made for SIM card slots one SIM card slot over a device one IMEI number, 2 SIM card slots over the device 2 IMEI number. So, as far as I know I don't think it will posses IMEI number rather than such devices are identified by using something different maybe mac address or .... – Peter Carlos Jan 22 '15 at 08:36
  • From the Wikipedia itself, "The IMEI number is used by a GSM network [...]", so if it doesn't have telephony, it won't have IMEI. Also, anecdotally, Nexus 7 (tablet) doesn't have IMEI. – Andrew T. Jan 22 '15 at 08:44
  • 2
    @Peter, sorry to correct you, but you are 100% dead wrong. A device with 2 SIM slots can have 0, 1 or 2 IMSIs, depending on how many SIM cards are inserted. It will always have exactly one IMEI, independent of SIM cards. – Mawg says reinstate Monica Jan 22 '15 at 09:39
  • As for your edit, I'd say this post on SO is related. – Andrew T. Jan 22 '15 at 09:50
  • 1
    I think the existence of a GSM radio is more important than the existence of a SIM slot. – Bob Jan 22 '15 at 17:05
  • I think you are correct (+1). The IMEI is really only necessary obtain a (P-)TMSI – Mawg says reinstate Monica Jun 07 '19 at 06:46
  • Sorry if this is a stupid question, but don't emulator instances constitute as "devices" that don't have a physical SIM card slot but still has an IMEI? Granted, the value seems able to be spoofed as whatever the user wants or randomly generated (by all appearances, I've yet to find any functional need to touch those settings), but they appear to be recognized by Google Play services as actual devices. – Arctiic Feb 28 '20 at 05:43

3 Answers3

8

I had a look at a tablet which does not have a SIM card slot and it does not have an IMEI number in the About Tablet settings menu.

This answer on StackOverflow should help you find an ID for a device with a SIM card slot and for those devices without.

Community
  • 1
richardpilgrim
  • 211
  • 1
  • 2
4

I am answering my own question, because I finally found a definitive answer. This S.O post says

"Google's CTS require that getPhoneType of TelephonyManager needs to be none and getDeviceId of TelephonyManager needs to be null for non-phone devices."

Community
  • 1
Mawg says reinstate Monica
  • 634
  • 3
  • 12
  • 28
2

My Azpen A727 tablet doesn't have a SIM card slot but it does have an IMEI number.

I see this number under Devices on my Google Dashboard.

enter image description here

Organic Marble
  • 402
  • 1
  • 8
  • 22
  • How certain are you of this, as it seems to contradict what everyone else says? Could you post a screen shot, or even just tell us how many digits it has? Thanks – Mawg says reinstate Monica Feb 26 '15 at 07:52
  • 2
    I have been researching about Azpen/iNet A727, and until now, I couldn't find any info if this device has SIM slot or not. But the text "No carrier" confused me, since it seems to support telephony, but no SIM card. This is just my opinion: the manufacturer probably didn't implement the code correctly, or there is a way to use telephony without SIM. As contradicting with other answer, this is a valid answer with proof. – Andrew T. Feb 27 '15 at 01:16
  • 1
    It's probably the world's most low-end tablet, so anything is possible. But you definitely cannot use it as a phone at least as it is configured from the manufacturer.' – Organic Marble Feb 27 '15 at 01:18