Over the past year, many different emails have circulated claiming that cell phone subscribers must register their phone numbers on the National Do Not Call Registry by a certain deadline to avoid receiving telemarketing calls because cell numbers will be given away. to meet the public. These emails are bogus for the simple reason that it is illegal for telemarketers to use autodialers (virtually all) to call wireless phones, and also because mobile numbers have always been and will remain private.
Cell phone numbers are not considered public information for a variety of reasons. Although there was and still is interest in creating a public directory for wireless phones (Wireless 411), mobile numbers will never be published in a public directory, such as the White Pages. Telephone rates charged to cell phone consumers simply vary too much and are typically higher than traditional landline rates.
Cell phone providers offer their customers a variety of phones, packages, and plans to choose from based on their needs. While some people only use their phone for emergencies and are satisfied with basic phone service with 50 minutes talk per month or less, or subscribe to a pay-as-you-go plan, others use their wireless phone for business or as their primary telecommunications medium. device. These people typically purchase additional phone features (ie, call waiting, caller ID, text messaging, Internet access, etc.) and pay a hefty fee.
However, regardless of how much a phone costs a person, making and receiving incoming calls or text messages, whether local or long distance, is not free. Mobile users are charged for minutes of their plan, real money if they go over the minutes, or pay a significant amount for a plan that gives them unlimited calling. Therefore, the main reason cell phone numbers are not public information is that it puts users at risk of being charged or having minutes wasted due to unwanted calls being made to their phone.
However, while you won’t be able to find a cell phone number through a direct search, you can use a reverse phone lookup if you already have the cell phone number and want more information about its owner.
