Google has a gigantic phonebook directory, as well they should – their index is one of the largest, if not THE largest, on the Web. Here’s how you can use Google’s phonebook to find a phone number or address (United States only at the time of this writing) - just type in phonebook: in front of any of these combinations in the Google search box.
More Web Search Quick Tips
- first name (or first initial), last name, city (state is optional)
- first name (or first initial), last name, state
- first name (or first initial), last name, area code
- first name (or first initial), last name, zip code
- phone number, including area code
- last name, city, state
- last name, zip code
Don’t want your information in the Google phonebook? You’ll want to visit this page: Google Phonebook Name Removal (http://www.google.com/help/pbremoval.html).
You can use Google to find both business and residential phone numbers on the Web. There are three basic Google search operators by which this can be accomplished:
- bphonebook: search business listings
- rphonebook: search residential listings
- phonebook: search all phone listings
Residential Phone Number Search
In order to search for residential phone numbers, you would frame your search in Google like this:rphonebook: johnson seattle
This search would bring up all the residential listings for Johnson in the city of Seattle. In order to search for a full name, you can do this:
rphonebook: sam johnson seattle
You can include an initial in there if you really want to, but unless the person is listed WITH that initial, it's probably not worth your while.
Business Phone Number Search
To find business phone numbers with Google, you would use this search syntax:bphonebook: refinishing new york
This search brings up all the listings for refinishing professionals in New York.
General Phone Number Search
If you're not sure that what you're looking for is business or residential, you can simply use the Google phonebook operator:phonebook: smith CPA portland
This search would bring back all the CPA's in Portland with the last name Smith.
