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.

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

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

John Smith, (302) 698-9515, 1098 Sorghum Mill Rd, Dover, DE 19901

To find a US residence, enter either ...	Examples
First name (or first initial), last name, state	[ John Smith DE ]
First name (or first initial), last name, city (state is optional)	[ John Smith Dover ]
First name (or first initial), last name, zip code	[ John Smith 19901 ]
Phone number, including area code	[ 302-698-9515 ]

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 Google will only find results for numbers listed in the phonebook. Unlisted numbers will not be found. Also, some listings may be out of date, including the examples in the previous table.

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	[ Griffith Trenton  ]
Business name, zip code	[ Antonio's Restaurant 08625 ]
Phone number including area code	[ (609) 883-1009 ]

Google lists up to three results that match your phonebook query. To see other listings, click on the "Results" link that's just above the phonebook icon. Try this with

[ Antonio's Restaurant 08625 ]

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.

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

This problem set gives you practice with looking up phone numbers and addresses. For hints and answers to selected problems, see the Solutions page in the Appendix.

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 ].