| Have you ever seen a phone number on your caller ID | | | | about the violation of their privacy. To resolve the |
| or email address and wondering who it was? Well a | | | | issue, they were given the choice to eradicate their |
| reverse phone or email lookup would give you that | | | | number from such directories, minding a small fee |
| answer. While using this kind of directory, your search | | | | ($0.80 to $1.50). |
| will be reversed, meaning you will be looking for a | | | | This kind of service is only effective with land based |
| name or address that goes with the phone number, | | | | lines. Cell phone numbers are part of a different carrier, |
| instead of the opposite. Some services offer much | | | | making it impossible to trace them in such way. To this |
| more information than just an address. This can be | | | | day, they are still out of any reverse 411 public |
| useful if you are researching someone for a job | | | | directory. |
| interview or someone you have met for example. | | | | Some companies such as telemarketers or |
| The purpose of this kind of service was first of all for | | | | fundraisers use these services to conduct their |
| emergency services, like everything 911 includes | | | | business by phone. While consumers were getting |
| (ambulance, police, fire...). They use it so that if you | | | | angry for receiving phone call after phone call, they |
| cannot state your address for any reason during the | | | | formed web based communities, discussing which |
| emergency, they will still be able to know where you | | | | company comes with the phone number that popped |
| are calling from and find you. For these to be effective, | | | | up on their caller ID. That way, they can avoid |
| they needed to involve all numbers, including non-listed | | | | answering when they recognize the number. |
| ones. For this reason, they are limited to internal use | | | | Reverse phone lookup directories are now offered for |
| only. | | | | free on the internet, and can be extremely useful if it is |
| Reverse phone lookup first originated in the 1990s for | | | | what you need. They will provide you with the |
| customers to use for a small price, a bit like the regular | | | | necessary information in order for you to identify the |
| 411 service. In the early 2000s it had grown to be at | | | | phone number you have in hand. |
| everyone's hand, making some inhabitants worried | | | | |