mobile network identifier tool usage has soared in the last five years and it’s estimated there are more cell phones than people on earth. With that in mind, phone number carrier lookup is becoming increasingly important for businesses, mobile marketers, and entrepreneurs. Using this tool can help you organize client databases by separating landline numbers from mobile phones and optimize your text message marketing strategy.

How to Use a Mobile Network Identifier Tool for Fraud Prevention

Cellular devices are equipped with two essential identifiers that are vital to data security: (1) the Media Access Control (MAC) address, which is unique to the device, and (2) the International Mobile Equipment Identity, or IMEI, which reveals the device’s place of manufacture and serial number and can be blacklisted when a device is reported stolen. Unfortunately, most mobile location services only support the IMSI or IMEI and not both together. This limits LEAs’ ability to locate a mobile device and reduce crime, prevent terrorism, and protect society.

One way to find out a phone’s network carrier is to install a free Android app called NCIL, which reveals a lot of information about your cellular connection. For instance, it will tell you the downlink signal power and band information. It will also display the CID/TAC information, which is the ID the mobile network assigns to each cell tower. It is possible that a cell tower will have more than one CID/TAC, as some operators will share their cell towers to save money and improve coverage. However, the most accurate way to determine a phone’s network carrier is to use a spectral analyzer that scans for RF parameters such as RSSI, RSCP, RSRQ and RSRP and generate automated carrier coverage maps.