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Every cellular connected device has an IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number, which is used to identify the hardware that is being connected to the network. This is very useful when it comes to mapping SIMs to specific devices and detecting when a SIM is being used in a new device. Hologram can always trace a SIM using your dashboard and determine what device it’s being used in by viewing session data as described in this guide. Your dashboard has built-in IMEI detection that keeps track of the IMEI of the device used with the SIM. This is recorded in the All Activity console drawer of the Dashboard. This is triggered under the following circumstances:
  • When a SIM is first connected by sending a message and attaching an _IMEI_FIRST_ tag.
  • When a SIM is connected using a different IMEI compared to the previous session by sending a message describing the change and attaching an _IMEI_CHANGE_ tag.
  • When a SIM is connected using a different modem model (different IMEI and TAC) by sending a message describing the change and attaching an _IMEI_TAC_CHANGE_ tag.
Activity console showing IMEI change detection messages with tags
Note: The Type Allocation Code (TAC) is the initial eight-digit portion of the IMEI, and it indicates the manufacturer, make, and model of the device. An _IMEI_TAC_CHANGE_ message means that the new IMEI has a completely different manufacturer, make, or model than the old IMEI. An _IMEI_CHANGE_ message indicates that the new device has the same manufacturer, make, and model as the old device.
Setting up an automated IMEI change alert is then as simple as creating a new Route that triggers an action when either of the three tags is detected. This guide goes over that process.
Limited functionality: Routes functionality is limited to certain legacy accounts.