The cell phone is critical to making our lives much easier - as much as we complain that it leaves us no free time. It has changed the communication paradigm forever. As a result the small, portable cell phone is the epitome of the high tech multi-tasker capable of literally anything the wireless Internet has to offer. With new technology and options being crammed into cell phone capability every day, the mobile handset is no longer a mere expense but a valuable asset; able to provide not only fast, cheap communication but entertainment and information on a very sophisticated level. Yet your mobile handset is portable, losable, breakable, abuse-able and steal-able - and thankfully, insurable. It is practically guaranteed that as prices stay above $500 for the latest and greatest in unlocked 3G GSM cell phones in the US Cellular arena, the secondary market - including fenced stolen items - will stay healthy.

"No problem, I took out insurance," you say (or simply didn't in more than 90% of unlocked cell phone purchase cases). Good for you if you were one of the very few who even considered it important, except that you may not be insured at all. You may in fact only have bought the extended manufacturers' warranty that in no way covers "lost, stolen, slipped and accidentally broken" and other everyday mishaps. Extended warranty is not comprehensive insurance, but conversely good insurance most often includes an extended warranty. This is a top-of-the-mind check item for any cell phone buyer. The third big check item is this: What is my phone's IMEI number?

Every licensed insurer of cell phones, new or refurbished, cannot give insurable backing unless there is a valid IMEI number attached. For that matter, any unlocked or locked cell phone you buy is legitimized by the IMEI number. Where can you find such a thing? Just under the battery housing of your phone like a natural birth mark. It stands for International Mobile Equipment Identity. The purpose of writing this article is not to give you the technical structure or basis for IMEI numbers. Ensquared.com, a leader in GSM Unlocked Cell Phones Nokia Iphone BlackBerry Prepaid & More has focused on the detailed reasons as to why No IMEI number means no insurance for unlocked cell phones. This gives you an in-depth understanding of IMEI numbers and their significance in putting obstacles in the way of unlocked cell phone thieves. For the layman or simply the every day mobile unit user and business owner with multiple unlocked cell phones in circulation it is imperative to appreciate that you should:

1. Insure your assets - especially unlocked cell phones that can take up a big chunk of your valuable cash flow (a rare commodity in recessionary times)
2. Buy the right insurance so rather you are "pleasantly surprised" and not "shocked" if you have to make a claim
3. Be certain - whether considering an extended warranty only or an insurance plan - your unlocked cell phones are each and every one linked to a valid identifiable IMEI number. Without it you are effectively not covered and insurance companies will use this as an excuse not to pay. Avoid the hassle of trying to iron all this out after the event.

The cost of following this 1-2-3 insurance agenda to conclusion - approximately 15 - 20% for a two year protection against most acts of human error and nature (half of that for one year cover) - is well worth avoiding the risk of losing the full asset. The last part of this - the IMEI number - is very important, or all your due diligence will fail in the end.