is there any way to wirelessly detect a cell phone's model number?

Post by Isaac
Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to wirelessly (esp. in close proximity)
get/read a cell
phone's model number; e.g., maybe like by using Bluetooth, etc? I need to
find a way to do this so any ideas or helpful pointers would be greatly
appreciated.
TIA,
Isaac

I'm inclined to doubt it! Why would anyone need the model of someone
else's phone?? Why would the manufacturer build such a capability into
the phone? How could he justify the cost of doing so?

Maybe you should start with the problem you are trying to solve!!

R. Mark Clayton

2010-02-06 22:45:33 UTC

Post by Isaac
Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to wirelessly (esp. in close
proximity) get/read a cell
phone's model number; e.g., maybe like by using Bluetooth, etc? I need to
find a way to do this so any ideas or helpful pointers would be greatly
appreciated.
TIA,
Isaac

I'm inclined to doubt it! Why would anyone need the model of someone
else's phone?? Why would the manufacturer build such a capability into
the phone? How could he justify the cost of doing so?
Maybe you should start with the problem you are trying to solve!!

Imagine someone is a pickpocket.

Imagine someone wants to steal high value mobile phones (or the well filled
wallets of those carrying them).

Imagine why being able to detect such phones would give such a person an
advantage...

Richard B. Gilbert

2010-02-06 22:50:06 UTC

Post by Isaac
Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to wirelessly (esp. in close
proximity) get/read a cell
phone's model number; e.g., maybe like by using Bluetooth, etc? I need to
find a way to do this so any ideas or helpful pointers would be greatly
appreciated.
TIA,
Isaac

I'm inclined to doubt it! Why would anyone need the model of someone
else's phone?? Why would the manufacturer build such a capability into
the phone? How could he justify the cost of doing so?
Maybe you should start with the problem you are trying to solve!!

Imagine someone is a pickpocket.
Imagine someone wants to steal high value mobile phones (or the well filled
wallets of those carrying them).
Imagine why being able to detect such phones would give such a person an
advantage...

Well, that's a good reason NOT to give phones the ability to identify
themselves to strangers. Since, AFAIK, no cell phone has this
capability, perhaps this was thought of long ago.

Isaac

2010-02-07 00:54:34 UTC

that is way too devious thinking here. They would already have to know
there was a high value Smartphone within a few feet, and be ready to mug the
person. You don't need a fancy scanning device to do that, they just watch
people use there fancy phones and follow them to mug them. I don't think
that is a real issue. Please advise on your ideas, though, on the
legitimate use I as about.

thanks again,
Isaac

Post by Isaac
Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to wirelessly (esp. in close
proximity) get/read a cell
phone's model number; e.g., maybe like by using Bluetooth, etc? I need to
find a way to do this so any ideas or helpful pointers would be greatly
appreciated.
TIA,
Isaac

I'm inclined to doubt it! Why would anyone need the model of someone
else's phone?? Why would the manufacturer build such a capability into
the phone? How could he justify the cost of doing so?
Maybe you should start with the problem you are trying to solve!!

Imagine someone is a pickpocket.
Imagine someone wants to steal high value mobile phones (or the well
filled wallets of those carrying them).
Imagine why being able to detect such phones would give such a person an
advantage...

Well, that's a good reason NOT to give phones the ability to identify
themselves to strangers. Since, AFAIK, no cell phone has this capability,
perhaps this was thought of long ago.

Chris Blunt

2010-02-07 01:07:36 UTC

On Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:50:06 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"

Post by Isaac
Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to wirelessly (esp. in close
proximity) get/read a cell
phone's model number; e.g., maybe like by using Bluetooth, etc? I need to
find a way to do this so any ideas or helpful pointers would be greatly
appreciated.
TIA,
Isaac

I'm inclined to doubt it! Why would anyone need the model of someone
else's phone?? Why would the manufacturer build such a capability into
the phone? How could he justify the cost of doing so?
Maybe you should start with the problem you are trying to solve!!

Imagine someone is a pickpocket.
Imagine someone wants to steal high value mobile phones (or the well filled
wallets of those carrying them).
Imagine why being able to detect such phones would give such a person an
advantage...

Well, that's a good reason NOT to give phones the ability to identify
themselves to strangers. Since, AFAIK, no cell phone has this
capability, perhaps this was thought of long ago.

I believe that a phone reveals its model number to a web site when it
connects via its mini-browser, so it not totally implausible.that it
may do something similar via Bluetooth.

Chris

Isaac

2010-02-07 04:57:57 UTC

Chris, this is very interesting. The thought had crossed my since I see
full user IP and OS/browser configuration info at the bottom of form mail
submissions off websites.

I did a quick search on this and quick found that info for the mini-browser
at:
http://www.zytrax.com/tech/web/mobile_ids.html

They call that a "Mobile Browser ID (User-Agent) Strings".

Now that you have confirmed it is possible, I need to find out if it
actually and practically doable.

Unfortunately, I did not have any luck yet finding developer level info on
Bluetooth protocol/stack . Bluetooth.org requires a high level corporate
membership to get access to the Bluetooth specification.

Do you have any tips on how I might find at least top level info that
confirms Bluetooth can do it in general, and then icing on the cake would be
to know if all cell phones (esp. those w/o Internet capability) implement it
even if it is in the general specification.

Thanks a bunch!
Isaac

Post by Chris Blunt
On Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:50:06 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"

Post by Isaac
Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to wirelessly (esp. in close
proximity) get/read a cell
phone's model number; e.g., maybe like by using Bluetooth, etc? I
need
to
find a way to do this so any ideas or helpful pointers would be greatly
appreciated.
TIA,
Isaac

I'm inclined to doubt it! Why would anyone need the model of someone
else's phone?? Why would the manufacturer build such a capability into
the phone? How could he justify the cost of doing so?
Maybe you should start with the problem you are trying to solve!!

Imagine someone is a pickpocket.
Imagine someone wants to steal high value mobile phones (or the well filled
wallets of those carrying them).
Imagine why being able to detect such phones would give such a person an
advantage...

Well, that's a good reason NOT to give phones the ability to identify
themselves to strangers. Since, AFAIK, no cell phone has this
capability, perhaps this was thought of long ago.

I believe that a phone reveals its model number to a web site when it
connects via its mini-browser, so it not totally implausible.that it
may do something similar via Bluetooth.
Chris

Isaac

2010-02-07 00:48:42 UTC

Thanks for your reply.

I was thinking that it might be built into phones that support various
Bluetooth devices. For example, if you had Bluetooth device (e.g., headset,
stereo headphones, larger sized remote keyboard, etc) with many options not
supported by all phones, then it could be helpful to offer the user an auto
configured profile having optimal settings for each phone model supported
(at the time) and load the one that matches there phone model.

I believe when a Bluetooth device registers with the cell phone it provides
its model number (isn't that what we see on the display when a connection is
established?). So, maybe there is a certain Bluetooth protocol that allows
that to go the other direction. I should mention that on many phones it is
almost impossible to find the model number, so such a Bluetooth device as I
describe could not rely on the user the manually entering the #, which is
why I need to have find an automatic, wireless way to get it.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
Isaac

Post by Isaac
Hi,
Does anyone know if there is a way to wirelessly (esp. in close
proximity) get/read a cell
phone's model number; e.g., maybe like by using Bluetooth, etc? I need to
find a way to do this so any ideas or helpful pointers would be greatly
appreciated.
TIA,
Isaac

I'm inclined to doubt it! Why would anyone need the model of someone
else's phone?? Why would the manufacturer build such a capability into
the phone? How could he justify the cost of doing so?
Maybe you should start with the problem you are trying to solve!!

Richard B. Gilbert

2010-02-07 01:11:24 UTC

Post by Isaac
Thanks for your reply.
I was thinking that it might be built into phones that support various
Bluetooth devices. For example, if you had Bluetooth device (e.g., headset,
stereo headphones, larger sized remote keyboard, etc) with many options not
supported by all phones, then it could be helpful to offer the user an auto
configured profile having optimal settings for each phone model supported
(at the time) and load the one that matches there phone model.
I believe when a Bluetooth device registers with the cell phone it provides
its model number (isn't that what we see on the display when a connection is
established?). So, maybe there is a certain Bluetooth protocol that allows
that to go the other direction. I should mention that on many phones it is
almost impossible to find the model number, so such a Bluetooth device as I
describe could not rely on the user the manually entering the #, which is
why I need to have find an automatic, wireless way to get it.
Any ideas?

I'm not familiar with Bluetooth devices. . . . I have hearing aids in
both ears so there's very little room in my life for a Bluetooth dongle.

I don't talk on the phone so much that holding it to my ear is any hardship!

YMMV!

Isaac

2010-02-07 11:14:58 UTC

FYI, someone just told me that it is possible via Bluetooth if activated,
but only if the two devices are
paired. He said to use the command "AT+CGMI" (manufacturer) and "AT+CGMM"
(model) via an SPP (Serial Port Profile) session.

This seems perfect if AT commands are supported by all cell phones with
basic Bluetooth capabilities (e.g., Bluetooth headset only); however, it is
still very unclear to me if AT commands are guaranteed to be supported.
Does anyone know anything about this?

Thanks again,
Isaac

Post by Isaac
Chris, this is very interesting. The thought had crossed my since I see
full user IP and OS/browser configuration info at the bottom of form mail
submissions off websites.
I did a quick search on this and quick found that info for the
http://www.zytrax.com/tech/web/mobile_ids.html
They call that a "Mobile Browser ID (User-Agent) Strings".
Now that you have confirmed it is possible, I need to find out if it
actually and practically doable.
Unfortunately, I did not have any luck yet finding developer level info on
Bluetooth protocol/stack . Bluetooth.org requires a high level corporate
membership to get access to the Bluetooth specification.
Do you have any tips on how I might find at least top level info that
confirms Bluetooth can do it in general, and then icing on the cake would
be to know if all cell phones (esp. those w/o Internet capability)
implement it even if it is in the general specification.
Thanks a bunch!
Isaac

Post by Chris Blunt
On Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:50:06 -0500, "Richard B. Gilbert"