Mobile equipment theft deterrent system and method

A system of preventing the unauthorized use of mobile equipment that utilizes a SIM card, wherein the mobile equipment includes a plurality of personalization categories that are programmable into the mobile equipment by the manufacturer wherein at least one of the personalization categories other than a network personalization category has been enabled by the manufacturer, the system comprising:

• means for performing a personalization check for the plurality of personalization categories upon powering up the mobile equipment for the first time;
• means for prompting for an authorization code for any personalization category that intentionally failed because the SIM card data did not match the expected value for that personalization category;
• and
• means for inputting an authorization code for the personalization category that failed in order to disable that personalization category.

A theft deterrent mechanism for SIM card compatible mobile equipment comprising:

• a plurality of programmable personalization categories resident within the mobile equipment wherein at least one of the personalization categories, other than a network personalization category, has been enabled by the mobile equipment manufacturer;
• and
• a mobile equipment processor that:
• performs a personalization check on each of the plurality of personalization categories upon powering up the mobile equipment for the first time;
• prompts for an authorization code for any personalization category that intentionally failed a personalization check because the SIM card data did not match the expected value for that personalization category;
• and
• accepts an authorization code for the personalization category that failed in order to disable that personalization category.