mobile equipment identity (mobile com.) (MEID)

The Mobile Equipment Identity (MEID) is a globally unique identifier for CDMA mobile devices that is assigned by the manufacturers.

The MEID identifier has replaced the Electronic Serial Number( ESN) since 2005 and is used to identify stolen or lost mobile devices. While the ESN number comprises 32 bits, the MEID number consists of 56 bits. With this character set, many more mobile devices can be identified than with the ESN number. However, mobile networks had to be upgraded to the MEID number.

The MEID number is the equivalent of the International Mobile Equipment Identifier( IMEI) in GSM networks, with which it is compatible.