Get my phone number, know my street, find where I live

Stuart Corner
Tuesday, 26 June 2007 06:35

Opinion and Analysis

It is not permitted to use the Integrated Public Number Database to offer address information for a phone number, but ISP Dodo can give you a precise address if you know the street name.

In the past reverse directory services have been available in Australia from companies that have sent the Telstra White Pages directories offshore to cheap labour countries to have their entire listings keyed in. Over the years Telstra has relentlessly pursued these, alleging breach of copyright on the listings and has been successful in closing all of them down.

The Dodo facility is part of its Broadband signup 'Wizard',  and while it may not be illegal it has certainly caught the attention of the Australian Communications and Media Authority.When I discovered it, I was rather surprised that it was available. So I contacted the ACMA. A spokesman said: "ACMA is aware of the Dodo broadband connect wizard and is currently in correspondence with Dodo about the operation of the tool. However it should be noted that the prohibition on reverse searching relates to public number directories which use data from the Integrated Public Number Database. It does not apply to a broadband lookup service such as the one on Dodo's website."

So how is Dodo getting the information to deliver this service? The ACMA was unable to comment. But Telstra might well be curious to know.