AT&T (T) and T-Mobile have once again combined to do something good and have become the first mobile carriers in the United States to implement a database designed to track customers’ stolen cellular phones. IDG News reports that the two carriers “will offer a joint database” that will “be able to block stolen handsets from being used on their networks.” The databases simply block unique IMEI numbers of stolen cell phones that are designed to maintain a device’s identity even if someone switches out its SIM card. IDG also says that Verizon (VZ) and Sprint (S) will join AT&T and T-Mobile to create one large nationwide database for stolen cell phones by next November.

Prior to joining BGR as News Editor, Brad Reed spent five years covering the wireless industry for Network World. His first smartphone was a BlackBerry but he has since become a loyal Android user.