The Long and Short of a Reverse Cell Phone Number Lookup

The great thing about cell phones is that there are no anonymous numbers (unless if the call is coming from a computer or a call card assisted call). But the downside, however, is that if the calling number is not a contact on your phone book, you will only get numbers, and numbers that you can't associate with a name, unless if you have a reverse cell phone number book.

So if an unidentified number is calling you, what do you do? Two things:

Answer the phone.

This sounds easy enough, but we can understand why you don't want to answer to an unidentified number. You might have Alfred Hitchcock's thriller musical score playing in your head as you see the number flashing on the screen - you just have that irrational fear of unidentified numbers. Perhaps you've just had too many creepy admirers in the past. Or maybe you have too many credit companies coming at your throat.

But really now, if none of those things are in your field of experience, pick up the phone and answer it.

Find A Reverse Cellular Phone Book

This kind of phone book is not paper on ink - these are what you could call online phone books. These are companies that have paid the cellular providers for access to their customers' databases.

It's easy to find these companies - just type in "reverse lookup cell phone" on Google, Yahoo and MSN and you will find many of them. Take note though, the most notable of these companies do not offer free services. After all, it cost them money to access the cellular numbers. It also costs them more money to keep the information updated. But the cost is basically minimal. A lookup for one number would typically cost $14-$25. There are also reverse lookup companies that charge nominal membership fees, typically from $39-$59.

Not all companies are created alike, but the most reputable companies would have a 100% money back guaranteed. You certainly don't want to pay and not find the information of that dreaded unidentified cell phone number (enter Alfred Hitchcock). Also, the better reverse lookup websites would only charge a one-time fee to give you unlimited access to their database.

Wherever you go, you won't find a cellular phone book, unless if you already have millions on your contact list. The reverse lookup companies offer anyone the peace of mind and security of who's calling them on their cell phone.

If you're not willing to pay for a reverse lookup service, you can always try searching for the number on Google, Yahoo or MSN. You could also try to a search at cell phone directory websites. But to those two options we say to you good luck! Because if the number is not listed in a publicly accessible website (so that the search engines can index it), you won't ever find it. On the other hand, the information you find on cell phone directory websites have been voluntarily put there by their members, so if your unidentified call is not a member, well, you do the math.