fsjk85 at the Australian Whirlpool forums was playing around with his camcorder's NightShot function when he found something interesting -- a hidden data matrix code on the left side of the iPhone 3G. We're guessing that's where Apple imprints the serial and IMEI numbers of each handset since it can't exactly hide them under a removable battery (cough), but we'll leave it to the rest of you to decode this sneaky tag and solve the mystery once and for all.
Update: We just got a much higher-res image of the code -- check it out after the break. [Thanks, Ben]
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Sep 18th 2008 12:13PM
OMG
Apple is trying to track users!!!
I bet they have a special satellite that can read all those matrices from SPACE...
You all know that the IMEI numbers are on the sim card holder right......???
No, the ICCID or SIM Number is on the SIM and is independent of the device. The IMEI is specific the the device alone.
Kyle, the IMEI is phone specific. And it's imprinted on the SIM card HOLDER (not this SIM) in tiny letters. Go see for yourself.
Since the SIM card holder is removable, perhaps this data matrix code is just a more permanent version of the IMEI and/or SN.
Kyle - Andrew said the "SIM card holder", not the "SIM card". Never having seen an iPhone, I can't comment on what that is exactly.
Does the iPhone let you enter *#06# to get the IMEI?
Do you mean to tell me you cant even remove the Battery on the iPhone?!!!
LAMe FACTOR 10!!!
Apple is TOo too Lame, QUITE LAme REally.......
whats an iphone?
You can also just type "*#06#" on any GSM device to get the IMEI ... of course that won't work once you're integrated battery dies =[
I was just trying this with my phone, and there is no code on mine.
I realized that the plastic is transparent-ish to UV rays, and you can see screws and the battery underneath it. I'm sure it's just for manufacturing tracking, and may no even be meant to be seen from the outside.
Yes ,you cann se the IME on the iPhone if you tipe *#06# ,i just tried :)
using the Read link and getting someone's cleaned up flipped version
http://i38.tinypic.com/2i0c45f.jpg
this is what it decode to
0880807B080802351448XAB
How ironic that my Nokia N82 can read the iPhone bar code.
@Wobbly that doesnt work on the iphone, ive tried it before
So, does anyone have a reader for this? Would a QR code reader work for this?
Umm...*#06# does work on the iPhone if you type it right!
I must say I am shocked at the total lack of references to "the Matrix" movie.