That's always been my impression - that MNOs identify your handset from a database of IMEIs provided by the manufacturer - and these databases almost always are limited (at least in the US) to handsets distributed by the MNO (branded phones). AT&T was able to identify the N75 and E62 I'd used, but not the e65, e61, N95-2, or N97. And T-Mobile the 5300, but not the N900.


So the consensus seems to be that the hearsay I'd read about PR 1.3 'telling on you' seems to be wrong..