Get CellId and other Imformation from mobile phones via J2ME

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Without GPS or Network Operator we can still use the Location Based Service, via the help of CellId(Cell ID the location of Cell Identities of GSM-networks). Google has one enormous database of cell ids which are linked to a longitude and latitude position, that why Google Map client know where you are even you have no embedded GPS--it is not open. But there are other opened cellid DBs that we can use freely: opencellid , mobiforge.com and http://realtimeblog.free.fr/
Ok, one we can get the cell from phone we can query the location from these cellid DB. In GSM networks, all cells in the world have a globally unique ID made up of four numbers:
cell ID, LAC, MNC, and MCC.

For example, for Motorola:
Using JavaME to obtain Cell Positioning information

{
….
String cellid = System.getProperty("CellID");
String lac = System.getProperty("LocAreaCode");
String imsi = System.getProperty("IMSI");
// Example IMSI (O2 UK): 234103530089555
String mcc = imsi.substring(0,3); // 234 (UK)
String mnc = imsi.substring(3,5); // 10 (O2)
String location = mcc + mnc + lac + cellID; // A globally unique ID for a cell
}

Information from Truly Mobile JavaME Applications: Location, Media Capture, and Connectivity

But get Cellid is still limited by mobile phone platform, Sign-certificate and Operator:

Nokia
s40 3rd Fp1 edition, requers operator or manufactureer signing
S60 3rd edition, FP2(released 2008 and newer, does not work on e.g. N95),no singing required

SonyEricsson:
Java platform 7.3 or higher (released around 2006 and newer)
older phone may need firmware update (7.1->7.3)
does not work in SE symbian (ie. UIQ) or windownsmobile(Xperia X1) phone
Information from Terminal-based Mobile Positioning overview

And notice, even you use the right code and sign your application, it is still not possible to query the cellID, because some telecom-operators have limited this service.

The fowllowing J2ME code could help you, J2ME Polish Syntax is used here to make the procedure easier. The functions here is not complete, because some manufactories have not released their J2ME API documents to query the cellID. If you have some information which is not included in the codes please let me and others know, please supplement here, thx!

//#if polish.Vendor == BlackBerry
//#= import net.rim.device.api.system.GPRSInfo;
//#endif
 
 
	/**
	 * get the cell id in the phone
	 * 
	 * @return
	 */
	public static String getCellId(){
		String out = "";
		try{
 
			out = System.getProperty("Cell-ID");
			if(out== null || out.equals("null") || out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("CellID");
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				System.getProperty("phone.cid");
			//#if polish.Vendor == Nokia
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.cellid");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Sony-Ericsson
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.sonyericsson.net.cellid");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Motorola
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("phone.cid");//System.getProperty("CellID");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Samsung
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.samsung.cellid");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Siemens
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.siemens.cellid");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == BlackBerry
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				//#= out = GPRSInfo.getCellInfo().getCellId();
			//#else
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("cid");
			//#endif
 
		}catch(Exception e){
			return out==null?"":out;
		}
 
		return out==null?"":out;
	}
 
	/**
	 * get the lac sring from phone
	 */
	public static String getLAC(){
		String out = "";
		try{
 
			out = System.getProperty("phone.lac");
 
			//#if polish.Vendor == Nokia
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.lac");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Sony-Ericsson
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.sonyericsson.net.lac");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Motorola
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("LocAreaCode");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Samsung
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.samsung.cellid");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Siemens
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.siemens.cellid");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == BlackBerry
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				//#= out = GPRSInfo.getCellInfo().getLAC();
			//#else
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("cid");
			//#endif
 
		}catch(Exception e){
			return out==null?"":out;
		}
 
		return out==null?"":out;
	}
 
	/**
	 *  Example IMSI (O2 UK): 234103530089555
		String mcc = imsi.substring(0,3); // 234 (UK)
		String mnc = imsi.substring(3,5); // 10 (O2)
	 * @return
	 */
	public static String getIMSI(){
		String out = "";
		try{
 
			out = System.getProperty("IMSI");
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("phone.imsi") ;
			//#if polish.Vendor == Nokia
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.mobinfo.IMSI");
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.imsi");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Sony-Ericsson
/*			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.sonyericsson.imsi");*/
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Motorola
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("IMSI");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Samsung
/*			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.samsung.imei");*/
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Siemens
/*			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.siemens.imei");*/
			//#elif polish.Vendor == BlackBerry
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				//#= out = GPRSInfo.getCellInfo().getBSIC();
			//#else
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("imsi");
			//#endif
 
		}catch(Exception e){
			return out==null?"":out;
		}
 
		return out==null?"":out;
	}
 
	/**
	 * 
	 *  For moto, Example IMSI (O2 UK): 234103530089555
		String mcc = imsi.substring(0,3); // 234 (UK)
	 * @return
	 */
	public static String getMCC(){
		String out = "";
		try{
 
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("phone.mcc") ;
			//#if polish.Vendor == Nokia
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				//out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.mobinfo.IMSI");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Sony-Ericsson
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.sonyericsson.net.mcc");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Motorola
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals("")){
				out = getIMSI().equals("")?"": getIMSI().substring(0,3);
			}
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Samsung
/*			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.samsung.imei");*/
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Siemens
/*			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.siemens.imei");*/
			//#elif polish.Vendor == BlackBerry
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))//getMNC()
				//#= out = GPRSInfo.getCellInfo().getMCC();   
			//#else
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("mcc");
			//#endif
 
		}catch(Exception e){
			return out==null?"":out;
		}
 
		return out==null?"":out;
	}
 
	/**
	 * 
	 *  For moto, Example IMSI (O2 UK): 234103530089555
		String mnc = imsi.substring(3,5); // 10 (O2)
	 * @return
	 */
	public static String getMNC(){
		String out = "";
		try{
 
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("phone.mnc") ;
			//#if polish.Vendor == Nokia
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = getIMSI().equals("")?"": getIMSI().substring(3,5);
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Sony-Ericsson
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.sonyericsson.net.mnc");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Motorola
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals("")){
				out = getIMSI().equals("")?"": getIMSI().substring(3,5);
			}
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Samsung
/*			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.samsung.imei");*/
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Siemens
/*			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.siemens.imei");*/
			//#elif polish.Vendor == BlackBerry
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))//getMNC()
				//#= out = GPRSInfo.getCellInfo().getMNC();   
			//#else
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("mnc");
			//#endif
 
		}catch(Exception e){
			return out==null?"":out;
		}
 
		return out==null?"":out;
	}
 
	/**
	 * not used now
	 * get the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI)) in the phone
	 * 
	 * @return
	 */
	public static String getIMEI(){
		String out = "";
		try{
 
			out = System.getProperty("com.imei");
			//#if polish.Vendor == Nokia
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("phone.imei");
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.IMEI");
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.imei");
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.imei");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Sony-Ericsson
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.sonyericsson.imei");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Motorola
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("IMEI");
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.motorola.IMEI");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Samsung
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.samsung.imei");
			//#elif polish.Vendor == Siemens
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("com.siemens.imei");
			//#else
			if(out== null ||out.equals("null")|| out.equals(""))
				out = System.getProperty("imei");
			//#endif
 
		}catch(Exception e){
			return out==null?"":out;
		}
 
		return out==null?"":out;
	}

Some J2ME applications are also available:
http://www.ottaky.com/midlets.php#netmon2
http://www.cellspotting.com/webpages/cellspotting.html

Ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_localization
http://www.paxmodept.com/telesto/blogitem.htm?id=531
http://www.slideshare.net/jaakl/terminalbased-mobile-positioning-overview-presentation
http://www.ottaky.com/midlets.php#netmon2
http://www.cellspotting.com/webpages/cellspotting.html

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Certainly Google has one enormous database of cell ids which are linked to a longitude and latitude position.

works fine...Thanks for sharing the information. That’s a awesome article you posted.

Hi
i want to implement gps coordinates with lat&long application in j2me .
and install blackberry.

Hi, guys! Can anyone help me? I have found this blog and the post seems interesting but I am not sure if it suits me. I am going to order a custom dissertation on mobile phones and security. Do you think the post is useful for it? Thanks in advance.

I appreciate how it is publicly accessible. A lot surely benefited from this entry which is comprehensive and content rich. Thanks for creating this one!

J2ME development has emerged as one of the most popular technologies. Mobile Application developers choose J2ME platform because it includes flexible user interface, robust security, and built-in network protocols and support for networked and offline applications that can be downloaded dynamically. A real advantage with J2ME development is that it enjoys widespread support across all platforms. The need of the hour to fulfill your requirements is to secure, reliable and professional services pertaining to J2ME application development. With the help of effective J2ME application development, one can get the advantages of easy user interface, easy application navigational functionality, better networking capabilities and improved security. For more information, visit at: cash 4 phones. Smiling

com.nokia.mid.networkid

eg. "01 (Vodafone I)"

s40 : System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.mnc")
s60 : System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.networkID")

Wow, thanks for the insightful post. I look forward to reading more from you.

I am new in J2ME, and i want to made a application which gets cellid, network name , service provider name, but i don't know how i will do? and it is possible on nokia s60 3rd devices like Nokia 3250, i have done this on symbian, it is possible in j2me?

Still i am not able to get all phones cellid and other info mainly on motorola em-30, and also some of notation
are not woked as to get cellid in samsung phone code is System.getProperty("Cell-ID"); not the one given in above code.

so please there isany notations or code which works correctly with the dvices.

With regards
Jitain Sharma

very useful info, I was looking for Information on mobile phones with J2ME

Samsung, I have not found so much information for the properties, bad official document. Sad

Excellent post, thank you very much for taking the time to share with those who are starting on the subject. Greetings

Hi leelight/Daniel,

thanks for this great information.

Is there a typo in the code related Samsung? You have used imei instead of imsi by mistake, or is not it possible to get imsi for Samsung?

Also, in Daniel's comment, could you please clarify the system properties for Samsung?

signal strength is also needed to get cellid information.

what I found is only for Nokia:

String signal = System.getProperty("com.nokia.mid.networksignal");

Thanks...

Daniel Drozdzewski wrote:

Dear leelight,

Great post - thanks a lot.
I have inherited JME codebase and Ihave found following properties that you don't check for, however I cannot guarantee how accurate those are.

Best regards,

Daniel

//All com.sonyericsson.net.* properties are hexadecimal //MNC variants com.sonyericsson.net.cmcc com.sonyericsson.net.mcc com.sonyericsson.net.cmnc com.sonyericsson.net.mnc


com.sonyericsson.net.lac
com.sonyericsson.net.cellid

//----------------------------
// CellID property found in motorola phones using Siemens modems (could also work on other phones using Siemens modems)

Siemens.CID
//LAC

phone.lai
//MCC on some nokias

com.nokia.mid.countrycode

//Samsung CELLID LAC MCC MNC

Thank you! it is useful for all !! I can not guarantee my code also, it is not possible to test the code on all the devices.

thank you for this information. you are right. By the way, i think CellId is just the supplement for GPS, it's location is ALWAYS inaccurate :) Jawdropping!

The IMSI contains the MCC and MNC for your home network, and does not change (its is effectively hard-coded into the SIM). If you roam to another network and/or country, the IMSI does not change.
With the code above, if you roam to another country, your location will be incorrect - you have a CellId which is dynamic and for the roaming network, but you will be adding the MCC/MNC from your home network! Result -> Incorrect location.

What you need is the current nework MCC and MNC (which is only the same as the MCC/MNC in the IMSI when you are in your home network)

This will be of great use for me. I appreciate how it is publicly accessible. A lot surely benefited from this entry which is comprehensive and content rich. Thanks for creating this one!

Dear leelight,

Great post - thanks a lot.
I have inherited JME codebase and Ihave found following properties that you don't check for, however I cannot guarantee how accurate those are.

Best regards,

Daniel

//All com.sonyericsson.net.* properties are hexadecimal //MNC variants com.sonyericsson.net.cmcc com.sonyericsson.net.mcc com.sonyericsson.net.cmnc com.sonyericsson.net.mnc


com.sonyericsson.net.lac
com.sonyericsson.net.cellid

//----------------------------
// CellID property found in motorola phones using Siemens modems (could also work on other phones using Siemens modems)

Siemens.CID
//LAC

phone.lai
//MCC on some nokias

com.nokia.mid.countrycode

//Samsung CELLID LAC MCC MNC

Wow thanks for the nice tutorial man. I would say that I had never heard anything about Cellid before reading your post about it. But now I am highly interested in this function and I plan to read more about it. The J2me in the mobile phones is well known for me because I am a junior mobile application developer by myself. Thanks one more time and keep writing good stuff!

Sincerely,

Steve Turnton from mobile application development

yes, right.
S60 3rd edition, FP2 -- released 2008 and newer
means fp1 does not work, fp2, fp3 fp4 and later feature pack will work

Lac code is not returned in Nokia S60 Fp1

hi, maybe, there is some special jsr specifications from Vendor such as Nokia, you can get some special capabilities. But i am not sure, you need read through the documents from official website. Eye-wink

Smiling Hi,

Other than CellID, could it be possible to get other information such as signal stength from some GSM cell tower?

Thanks!

read this:
http://www.easywms.com/easywms/?q=en/node/3578

> s40 3rd Fp1 edition, requers operator or manufactureer signing
how can such a signing be obtained?

To edit out line numbers: there are editors such as kate on linux, or Notepad++ on Windows, that allow "rectangular" selections, so it's easy to get rid of the line numbers.

It would be ahndy if there was a button to copy the code to the clipboard.. Editing out line numbers is a painful and tedious task