| Finding out who called is a big problem for many | | | | numbers you didn't know, you'd end up having to just |
| people. It's one of the biggest needs that millions of | | | | put up with not finding out. Luckily, the Internet has |
| people have after receiving a call or a text message | | | | changed all this. Instead of using a central paper-based |
| from an unknown number. It's a massive problem | | | | directory, several companies such as Intelius and |
| which now has an ingenious solution - thanks to the | | | | Reverse Phone Detective, have actually made |
| Internet. | | | | websites which allow you to instantly find anyone's |
| Normally, to find out who called your phone, you would | | | | details from their cell phone number. |
| look up their number with a reverse phone directory. | | | | These sites are known as reverse cell phone lookup |
| The government has made these directories to help | | | | sites, and are some of the most popular on the |
| you find out the name and address of anyone with a | | | | Internet. They work in a very clever way - by |
| residential land line number. Unfortunately, this hasn't | | | | purchasing public records from the likes of the |
| stretched to cell phones, for two simple reasons. The | | | | government and ad agencies. Public records are files |
| first is that since cell phone ownership information is | | | | that anyone can get and are made at times such as |
| constantly changing, it would literally be impossible for | | | | when you apply for a loan, or are trying to get a new |
| the government to keep a directory of it all up to date. | | | | car. If you've filled out a form, put your cell phone |
| The other reason is that since cell phones are not tied | | | | number on and then ticked a box giving the company |
| to a central address, unlike landlines, they cannot be | | | | permission to use your information, you can get your |
| accurately pinpointed to a location. The government | | | | cell phone number details looked up. It's quite |
| would either have to track all the cell phones or | | | | controversial, but has proved to be incredibly popular |
| continuously update their directory for this, which would | | | | because the way these sites work is that they allow |
| obviously be too much effort for them. | | | | you to instantly find out the name, address and private |
| These two problems left cell phone details out in the | | | | details for anyone... |
| cold, and if you received any calls / texts from | | | | |