How to Tell if a Number Is Cell Phone or Landline

Have you ever wondered whether a specific phone number is a cell or landline? This could be a number you’re trying to call or need to look for. However, finding this out can be a challenge if you’re in North America as opposed to some other part of the world because the prefixes used for numbers here could be for a landline or cellular phone.

So, how can you truly tell if a number is a cell phone or a landline? There are a few ways to do this. You can use a phone number validator, a reverse lookup tool like Searqle, or even a caller ID app like TrueCaller.

If you want to go old school, buy the latest directory version and look for the number. We’ll go through each of these methods and discuss their effectiveness.

Is It Possible to Detect if It Is a Cell Phone Number or a Landline?

Yes, detecting if a phone number is a cell phone or a landline is possible.

One way to do this is by using a phone number validation tool or service that can determine the type of phone number based on its prefix or area code. In the United States, for example, phone numbers with area codes starting with “2” or “3” are generally assigned to landline phones, while those starting with “4” or higher are transferred to cell phones.

However, it is essential to note that this method may not be foolproof as some area codes can be assigned to both landlines and cell phones. Another way to determine the phone type is by making a phone call and listening for a specific tone played on landline phones but not cell phones.

Another way — using a phone lookup service.

Using a Directory to Find Out a Cell or Landline Number

The first and possibly the most old-school method of determining whether a number is a landline or cell phone number is to look for it in a directory or the Yellow Pages. If the number you’re looking for is not present, given that you have the latest edition of the directory, chances are it’s a mobile number. However, this won’t be the case in all instances, which sometimes makes this method unreliable.

Use a Reverse Phone Number Lookup

If you don’t want to use a caller ID app or phone number validators, you can use a free reverse phone number lookup service. One of the best phone number lookup websites available today is Searqle. It offers all kinds of information, such as someone’s phone number, address, name, and even any past criminal records.

NOTE: The service also has approval from the FCRA to provide aggregated data on paid subscriptions.

Here’s how you can use Searqle to check if a number is a cell phone or a landline:

1. Open the Searqle website.
2. Tap “Phone” and enter the number you want to check the connection type.
3. Confirm your search in the next window.
4. Click on View Report and confirm that you’re not a robot.
5. Enter your details, accept the terms that declare the information will not be used to stalk or harass someone, and you will be granted access to your report once you’ve paid for it.

As you can see from the image above, Searqle will give you the details such as the owner’s name, the carrier their number is associated with, and even their location and address.

Using a Caller ID App to Tell if a Number is Cell Phone or Landline

Another way to tell if a number is a mobile or landline is to use caller ID apps like TrueCaller. Besides giving you basic information like the phone number and the name of the person calling you, TrueCaller, among some other good caller ID apps, also shows you whether a number is a landline or cell phone.

The app also gives you spam reports to avoid answering such calls and tells you which carrier it’s linked to.

Another benefit of Truecaller is that it allows you to manually enter a phone number to obtain all basic and additional information about it and determine whether it’s a landline or cell.

How to Tell if a Phone Number Is a Cell or Landline Using a Phone Validator

Using a cell phone number validator is one of the easiest ways to tell if a number is mobile or landline. A phone number validator is a tool that confirms a number’s validity and tells you what sort of connection it has.

The tool does this by querying the Location Touring Number database. Every cell phone provider uses this database to route a call from a number to the correct destination. This database also stores information about the type of connection of a certain number, cellphone, or landline, along with which wireless carrier it’s associated with.

While these tools are pretty effective, they usually offer validation services in bulk for a large set of phone numbers. However, a few of them, such as Phone Validator and TextMagic phone validator offer a more limited service that allows you to identify phone line type. Note that there are several free phone validators, but not all are effective or safe.

What Is the Difference between Mobile Number and Telephone Number?

A mobile number is a phone number associated with a mobile device or cellphone. It is usually provided by mobile network operators and associated with a SIM card. Mobile numbers are typically used for making calls, sending text messages, and accessing the Internet from a mobile device.

On the other hand, a telephone number, also known as a landline number, is a phone number that is associated with a physical telephone line.

These numbers are typically used for making calls and are connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a global network of interconnected telephone lines. Telecommunications companies usually assign telephone numbers and are associated with a physical address or location.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are several ways to determine whether a number is a cell phone or a landline number. You can use Google search, a directory, or even more advanced tools like a phone number validator or a caller ID app.

However, the best and most comprehensive solution is to use a reverse phone lookup tool like Searqle. It gives you all the information you could need about the number and its owner.