Fone Finder

Help Page


Introduction

Types of searches

How to use Fone Finder

How it works

FAQ

Becoming a Fone Finder Data Source

Phone number info we need

Database Update Log

Go back to Fone Finder


Introduction to Fone Finder

What it does

What it does NOT do

Types of searches

How to use Fone Finder

How it works

Fone Finder is written in a mixture of Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) and the PHP scripting language. Html formats the screens, and sets up the input forms. PHP checks the user input for errors. Server-side PHP opens the database tables, and passes SQL queries to a MySQL engine, then formats and displays the results. The server-side PHP is processed by the Apache Web Server, and does not show in the output the user sees, so viewing the "Source" doesn't show it to you.

Within the database are these tables:

When doing a USA/Canada search, SQL is generated which search for matching records in the npanxx and state tables. In an international search, SQL is generated to search the Country table. This SQL query is passed to a resident MySQL engine, which returns a resulting table containing matching cities. PHP then formats and displays the results, including graphic flags and maps.

FAQ

  1. "What about Number Portability?" -- Due to act of Congress, any telephone number in the USA can be "ported" away from its geographic nexus and default telco ownership, to a new telco.  After a port, a new telco is assigned to the specific number.  FoneFinder cannot track these numbers' telco because the official owner of the porting database is Neustar which has a nondisclosure agreement which prohibits anyone from releasing porting information.  I wish I could provide this information to you, but am prevented from doing so.  Bottom Line: FoneFinder is inaccurate to the extent that numbers have been ported.
  2. "What do the 'TYPE' codes mean?" -- These codes indicate the type of phone company that "owns" the prefix (NXX). See this doc. Here are the codes:
    CLEC = Competitive Local Exchange Carrier, like TCG
    RBOC = Regional Bell Operating Company, like Pacific Bell or Bell Atlantic
    TELCO = A long distance company, like AT&T
    WIRELESS = A cell phone or pager company, like Nextel
    CAP = Competitive Access Provider, like ICG
    IND TELCO = A small local phone company, not previously part of the Bell System.
    PCS = A Personal Communication System provider, like Pacific Bell PCS. Cell phones and data transmission.
  3. "I want to download your database.  Why can't I?" -- Fone Finder's search engine deliberately cuts off queries of more than 1000 records.  If you want a database of NPA/NXXs that you can use on your computer, please check out C.O. Finder by Stuff Software.
  4. "The city Fone Finder shows does not match reality.  Why?" -- With the new explosion of CLECs, many city names listed in Fone Finder do not match the geographic location.  This is because companies get to name the C.O. location themselves, and often use some generic big city name that's local.
  5. "Why does Fone Finder exist?" -- Fone Finder was written to fill a perceived need in the telephone search engines currently on the Web. Right now, they fall into two categories:

    Fone Finder is designed to take a phone number, and look up a city, or take a city, and give the possible prefixes and area codes. No known search of these types is currently available on the Web.

  6. "Who are you?" My name is Walt Brubaker, I'm a Unix/C/Oracle programmer of 27 years experience and I live in Las Vegas. Fone Finder is a free service, and my hobby is updating and enhancing it. It takes me about 10-15 hours per week of spare-time work. For you weird-types, here's a picture of me with a naked chick.;-)
  7. "Why do you show GTE as the telco when the new name is Verizon?" -- We use the official, registered company names. Telcos sometimes use a different company name when marketing to the public.
  8. "Why can't I put in a number and get a person?" -- Fone Finder does NOT do this, but there are some sites on the web that have a reverse search: www.infospace.com -or- www.anywho.com. If you want a reverse search more accurate than these, I can only suggest you buy a set of CDROMs with the phonebooks on it at the software store (e.g. "Pro Phone", or "Phone Books USA").
  9. "Why can't I put in all 10 digits?" -- Since Fone Finder only uses the first seven digits in its USA search, the rest are unnecessary.
  10. "Why can't I find a city in xxxxx country?" -- Not all countries have their cities loaded yet. Look in the "City codes loaded for" list to see if your country is there. This list grows weekly as people send me city codes from around the world, and I key them in. I should have all countries loaded, and you will always be able to at least find out the country name, map, and flag.
  11. "Why can't I look up New York City?" -- Try the borough: Staten Island, Manhattan, Bronx, etc.
  12. "Why can't I find a city by name?" -- I have 15 digits per city, and some of them had to be contracted. Try keying less letters, and let the wildcard search take over. If the city starts with "Saint", try "ST". If the city starts with "West", try "W ".
  13. "Why did the city name come up: "LAXWZ1" (or similar unreadable code)?" -- Each telephone company gets to name a prefix (NXX) when assigned. The tradition is to name them after the cities they belong to. Some telcos do not do this, and unfortunately I have to go with the name they give them.
  14. "Please, puhleeeeez help me! I need to find the cell phone number of some old friend who lives in Cameroon?" -- Sorry, but all the data I have are published. There are no other data kept behind the counter, so if you don't find it on the shelves, we don't stock it. I suggest paying for a people search online.
  15. "Why doesn't backspace work in my browser?" -- Over time as Fonefinder changed servers and technology the URL which made it work changed. But to keep the URL compatible with the past I put a redirector in from http://www.primeris.com/fonefind/ which always points to the latest URL for the server-side script. When you are on the search page and hit backspace, it will go to the above page, which redirects you back in. Some people have suggested some nefarious scheme to lock them into the site, and this just isn't so. If compatibility is most important to you, use the URL above, as it will always work. If you want backspace to work in your browser, then notice the URL that is displayed when you are on the FoneFinder search page, clip it out, then use it for your links.

Becoming a Fone Finder Data Source

Database Activity Log

Go back to Fone Finder

Updated phone info or questions regarding this page? write to me

Copyright 1997 Primeris, Inc. All Rights Reserved