It used to be that everyone had a landline phone in their home and locating a phone number or address simply required opening the white pages and searching for their name. This has become more complex now that cell phones are widely used and many people do not even have home phones, and if they do their number may be unpublished.

Even with the invention of caller ID on most home phones, a lot of numbers may appear without an identifying name and there are ways for callers to prevent their details from coming up. Reverse phone lookup directories have stepped up to these changing times to provide a very timely service to modern phone users.

There are two typical functions for these services.

Finding Names

If you are getting calls from someone and only a number shows on your caller ID, or you want to figure out cellular phone callers, reverse phone lookup directories can help you find out the name listed to the number of concern. Just by typing in the phone number you will be able to identify whoever is responsible for those bothersome phone calls.

People looking for lookup directories include those wanting to check up on a number often texting their spouse or teenager's cell phone, since there is no accessible directory for cell phone numbers. Other people may use lookup directories when they want to identify a name registered to a landline that is unlisted. Whenever you have a phone number but are uncertain who it is connected to, a reverse phone lookup directory can deliver the information.

Searching for Addresses

another typical use is to identify an address for someone, whether you know their name or not. Once you find the contact information associated with a certain number most services will deliver other sorts of information as well, which may include the address of the home phone or the address listed to a cell phone number.

This may not be an everyday need for most people, but it does have its benefits in quite a few situations. For example, take a parent desperate to locate a teenager who has run off or is still out long after curfew. If they can come up with numbers from the teenager's bedroom or cell phone a reverse phone lookup could quickly reveal addresses and names of places the teenager may be at that time.

More common situations may be looking for addresses to send out party invitations to your child's friends. If you have their phone number you can get their address and easily deliver the invite without calling or tracking down other busy people.

Lookup directories can also deliver a connection to other kinds of information, such as income brackets and address histories, and one site even gives a map with an general pinpoint of the most current location.

There is a small charge for any legitimate reverse phone lookup directory, but if your business or personal life demands accurate data it is worth the money in the end. The fee is necessary because this kind of information is not simple or completely free to research, compile, and protect, so dispensing it on demand to consumers like you must also come with a fee to make up for such working expenditures.

There more than likely will never be a public directory for cell phone numbers, and even if there were it is probable a lot of the numbers would be unpublished as is the case with many landline numbers today. The best way to gain access to these numbers is to put up a small fee either to complete a one time number lookup or to join a lookup directory if you will need to access the service long term.