How to Tell if a Number is from a Landline
By Emily Manthei
Even though most phones now come with caller ID, one thing you do not know immediately is whether or not the number calling you is a landline or a cell number. In some cases, you can see the difference easily. If you know the first three numbers of local landlines, it is easy to see if the number calling you matches. In some countries, cell phone numbers all start with the same two or three numbers, while landlines have different local area codes. However, the only way to really know, with certainty, if a call is coming from landline or a cell number is to look up the origin of the specific number.
Conduct a reverse phone search online at a website that provides this service. Not all of these sites can differentiate between numbers from a landline or a cell phone. Two that can are SearchBug.com and PhoneValidator.com.
Enter the phone number in question. Look carefully to determine how to enter the number. Some websites will require dashes between sections of numbers, while others want you to enter the number with no spaces.
Click on the "Search" button to see the results.
Scroll down the page or find the area that confirms whether the number is a cell number or a landline. The information provided will tell you the phone company and location where the line is registered, which confirms the type of number it is.
References
Writer Bio
Emily Manthei holds a masters degree from the University of Edinburgh and has written for publications as diverse as the "Oxford Journal of Theological Studies," "Emanuel Levy Film Reviews," "USA Today" and "Northern Express Magazine." She also writes screenplays for short and feature films.