Fortunately, for many cell phone customers, a 411 directory proposed by the major cell phone carriers has been postponed indefinitely. However, this hasn’t prevented many people from registering with the national “Do not call” list as a way to head off any future public 411 listing and the avalanche of telemarketing calls that would be sure to follow.
So why haven’t the cell companies gone ahead with their plan? Well, the simple answer is that while most of us are still paying a “per call” rate, it would be irresponsible and possibly illegal to publish your cell number so that telemarketers could phone you at will – all on your dime.
However, as cell time becomes cheaper, we could see a situation in the not too distant future where most phone plans will be billed per month regardless of use (just like your home phone). Once this happens, you could see a cellular 411 list that contains the exact information you can get for a land line through The White Pages today. Of course, it would be up to the individual to take the extra step and get a private listing.
For the time being, however, if you want details about a cell number such as the owner’s name and address, you have to use a service like this one. For a small fee, they will provide you with up-to-date, accurate information about any cell number you wish – all straight from the cell phone company.