how do you find out who the wireless provider of a cell phone number is?

Question

I want to know if the number is in my network...but don't want to just ask...

Answer 1

Do a reverse phone search at http://www.411.com It should tell you who the provider of the number is.

Answer 2

I used to be able to know in my area, because after awhile you know so many people with cells and theyve told you who their provider is so you know anyone with that first three number has that provider too. A few years ago when they started the number porting thing, and you cant tell that way anymore because people port their numbers to a different carrier now.

When getting a wireless number, I always just say "oh, whos your provider? and if they ask why I wanna know etc, say because you have free mobile to mobile and wonder if they have hte same provider as you. I dont see anything wrong with asking them that.

If you cant/dont want to ask them, As a last resort all you can do is the voicemail trick like the previous poster put. Each carrier has different voicemails and some of them, like mine, T-mobile, will say (when you push 5 to leave a numeric page) Please enter a TMOBILE telephone number. Thats how you know they have T-mobile. I think Sprints will say at the end thank you for using Sprint pcs voicemail. Atleast it used to say that.

Answer 3

Hello,
Most wireless providers will be listed in WHITEPAGES. Do a reverse number lookup. Now most of the numbers wont be listed as to who they are but will all most always tell you who is the provider and where from. Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Yeah, I agree. Do the reverse lookup, but remember that it will only tell you the original carrier. I changed networks and it still says my number belongs to omnipoint, when they merged to form voicestream, then t-mobile, then I switched to sprint. Another idea is to call the person and listen to their voicemail. Each carrier has a distinctive set of instructions that play directly after the person has their message. It's tricky, but you could figure it out.

Answer 5

no other way besides just asking that person... you will be surprised how many people just ask...its almost a conversation starter; yea its sad to say. but b/c of all the security involved w/ cell phone accounts i don't think you could just walk into any wireless stores give them that phone number and ask them if they are a customer of theirs...that would be a embarrassing question, but just ask its safer and less embarrassing.

Answer 6

people can transfer their number from providers nowadays so may not be very easy to find out which network they are with

Answer 7

Try lycos.com and do a search for reverse phone look-up. Sometimes it can give you the provider and other times it can't.