Use Google if you want to look up a phonebook listing for someone who lives in the United States. Just enter a person's name and a city, state, or zip code in the standard web search box. Then hit the ENTER key or click the "Google Search" button.

If you have easy access to the web, Google's phonebook feature can be more convenient than your local phonebook and more extensive too.

On the results page, phonebook listings are next to a telephone icon.

Google's residential phonebook feature recognizes inputs in the following formats.

To find a US residence, enter either ...	Examples
First name (or first initial), last name, city (state is optional)	[ Michael Bloomberg New York ]
First name (or first initial), last name, state	[ Michael Bloomberg NY ]
First name (or first initial), last name, area code	[ M Bloomberg 212 ]
First name (or first initial), last name, zip code	[ Michael Bloomberg 10021 ]
Phone number, including area code	[ 212-772-1081 ] or [ (212)772-1081 ]
Last name, city, state	[ Bloomberg New York NY ]
Last name, zip code	[ Bloomberg 10021 ]

Notice that Google supports reverse look up. You can enter a phone number with area code and learn to whom that number belongs.

Be aware that some listings are out of date.

When you want a US business white-page phonebook listing, enter a business name and location or phone number.

To seek a US business, enter ...	Examples
Business name, city, state	[ Trek Waterloo WI ]
Business name, zip code	[ Ben & Jerry's 05403 ]
Phone number including area code	[ (650) 930-3500 ]

Google lists up to three results that match your phonebook query.

To see other listings, click on the "Phonebook results" link that's just above the phonebook icon.

Notice that when Google provides an address, it includes links to map providers. In the next section, we'll look at how to obtain a map and directions.

If Google doesn't return a phonebook link, try using the phonebook: search operator.

Need an email address? Though it would be a nice feature for you and me, Google doesn't offer an email-lookup service, since spammers could use it to get your address and send you unsolicited spam email.

Exercises

1. What is the address of the Empire State Building in New York City in the state of New York (the two-letter state code is NY)?

2. Check whether Google knows your phone number and address. If you wish to remove your listing from Google's PhoneBook, complete the name removal form, which you can find at www.google.com/help/pbremoval.html or by searching for [ remove phone number Google ].

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