Qualcomm today announced that it is making its Device Identification, Registration, and Blocking System (DIRBS) platform as freely downloadable open-source software. The DIRBS server-based software platform can be used to help identify illegal, and stolen mobile devices in a country.
The DIRBS software platform will help regulatory agencies classify devices and generate IMEI-based lists for notification, amnesty, and blocking purposes. This move comes as its efforts to combat the improper use of counterfeit, illegal and stolen devices on cellular networks. Qualcomm says that counterfeiting resulted in around 184M global lost smartphone sales units in 2015.
The DIRBS server-based software platform will be hosted on the open-source software website Github, and may be freely downloaded from here and used by anyone.
Mohammad Raheel Kamal, Senior Director, IPR Enforcement, Qualcomm Incorporated said:
Counterfeit devices are a significant problem worldwide and result in an estimated45.3 billion EUR in lost sales to genuine manufacturers each year, according to a recent European Union Intellectual Property Office Study issued in February of 2017. Sharing the DIRBS solution as the freely downloadable open-source software will allow the mobile industry to rapidly implement this powerful technology to help address counterfeiting and related issues around the globe.
John Han, senior vice president, Qualcomm Incorporated and general manager, Qualcomm Technology Licensing said:
Qualcomm is committed to enriching the mobile ecosystem, including assisting regulatory agencies in addressing their needs for security with respect to cellular-enabled devices. We are excited to share the DIRBS software platform to help enable regulatory agencies to further fight the proliferation of counterfeit, illegal and stolen devices.