How can I block a stolen mobile gsm phone from making calls

I am interested in finding software, documentation or links that shows how I can either send sms message to a phone via IMEI number and disable it. Also, how do providers perform this function. Are there standard API that providers use to disable phones. For example, if I build a database of numbers to be blocked, what is the interface I have to coordinate with providers to allow them to do the blocking. Thanks to all those with suggestions or answers