The Way Cell Numbers were Searched for in the Past

Today there is a reverse cell lookup to help you search telephone information.  This convenient and easy-to-use online tool has made finding information on unknown numbers and cellular subscribers an achievable and virtually hassle-free process.  However, two decades ago this wasn't the case.  Telecommunication device consumers did not have the luxury of logging on to a computer, accessing the Internet and looking up contact information.

Once upon a time the only "convenient" options were...

The Phonebook - The local newsprint White and Yellow Pages that was and is made publicly available to residents of a city, was once one of the only ways a person could attempt to find information related to telecommunication device consumers.  However, this particular version of the public phone directory is quite restricting.  Not only can you just search alphabetically by last name, but the book merely contains the numbers of listed landline subscribers residing within the region.

Private Investigator - Since searching for someone's contact information wasn't an option provided by the local phonebook, those who wished to investigate a suspicious number were left seeking the services of a private investigator or a public law enforcement officer for assistance.  This was, and still is a costly search method and was often reserved for important matters.  For example, a spouse wanting to find out if their partner was having an affair, or a person who wanted to find out who was behind the harassing or threatening home calls they were receiving.

Calling Number Identification - When caller ID was introduced to phone consumers they could see the name and number of the person who was calling.  Even when they were contacted by private callers, there was still usually a sourcethey could write down and call back if ever there was a need for further investigation.  However, as time passed and technology improved, caller ID became less and less precise, as callers were learning how to block their origins or even spoof them, so that a fake number would be revealed instead of the real calling location.  This made investigating an impossible task.

Thankfully, these above search methods are no longer your only options when you need to track down details related to someone's contact information.  Now you can lookup any ten digits belonging to a landline or cell phone without needing a significant excuse to pursue your search, and without having to pay a substantial fee and suffering a long wait to find out the identity and location of a number owner.