A telephone directory, also known as a telephone directory, phone book, phone book, or white / yellow pages, is a list of telephone subscribers in a geographic area or subscribers of services provided by the directory publishing organization. Its purpose is to allow the telephone number of a subscriber identified by name and address to be found.
The advent of the Internet and smartphones in the 21st century greatly reduced the need for a paper phone book. Some communities, such as Seattle and San Francisco, tried to prohibit their unsolicited distribution as useless, unwanted and harmful to the environment.
Subscriber names are usually listed in alphabetical order, along with your street and street address and phone number. In principle, all subscribers in the geographic coverage area are listed, but subscribers may request the exclusion of their directory number, often for a fee; their number is said to be "not included in the list" (American English), "ex-directory" (British English), "private" or private number (Australia and New Zealand), or "unpublished" (Canada).
A telephone directory can also provide instructions: how to use the telephone service, how to dial a particular number, whether local or international, what numbers to access important and emergency services, public services, hospitals, doctors and organizations that can assist in Crisis times. You can also have information on civil defense or emergency management. There may be traffic maps, postal codes / zip codes, international dialing codes or stadium seating charts, as well as advertising.
In the USA According to current standards and practices, mobile and voice over IP lists are not included in telephone directories. Efforts to create cell directories have found strong opposition from several fronts, including those seeking to avoid telemarketing.