It used to be that everyone had a standard phone in their home and locating a number or address simply required opening the yellow pages and finding the name. Things have grown more difficult now that cell phones are widely used and many people do not even have home phones, and if they do their number may be unlisted.
Even with the widespread use of caller ID on most home phones, some numbers may show up without an identifying name and there are ways for callers to stop their name from appearing. Reverse phone lookup directories have stepped up to these changing demands to offer a very valuable service to modern phone users.
There are two common functions for these services.
Searching for Names
If you are getting calls from someone and only a number comes up on your ID, or you need to figure out cellular phone callers, reverse phone lookup directories can assist in finding the name listed to the number of concern. Just by typing in the phone number you will be able to identify whoever is behind those bothersome phone calls.
People looking for lookup directories include those wanting to identify a number often texting their spouse or teenager's cell phone, since there is no phone book for cell phone numbers. Others may use lookup directories when they want to find a name connected to a home phone that is unlisted. Anytime you have a phone number but are uncertain who it belongs to, a reverse phone lookup website can deliver the information.
Searching for Addresses
another common function is to locate an address for someone, whether you know their name or not. Once you plug into the information connected with a particular phone number most directories will give other sorts of information as well, such as the address of an home phone or an address connected to a cell phone number.
This may not be an everyday need for most people, but it does have its uses in some situations. For example, take a parent needing to find a teenager who has run away or has not returned home long after curfew. If they can find phone numbers from the teenager's bedroom or cell phone a reverse phone lookup could quickly uncover addresses as well as names of locations the teenager may be located.
Other circumstances may be searching for addresses to send out party invitations to your child's peers. If you have the phone number you can get their address and easily deliver the invite without calling or tracking down other busy parents.
These services can also give you access to other kinds of data, including income brackets or address histories, and one site even gives a map with an general pinpoint to the business or home's location.
There is a minor fee for any legitimate reverse phone lookup directory, but if your business or personal life demands certain data it is worth the money in the end. The charge is required because this sort of information is not simple or free to research, pull together, and save, so distributing it immediately to people such as you must also come with a fee to account for these serviceable costs.
There more than likely will never be a phone book for cell phone numbers, and even if they were compiled it is probable the majority of the numbers would be unpublished just like many home phone numbers today. The only way to get access to these numbers is to pay a nominal charge either to do a one time number lookup or to join a lookup service if you will be using the directory long term.