Laura Bashraheel

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — An all-new application named “Numberbook” allows its users to type the name and search for any number’s owner in the world. It can be used for iPhone (jailbroken), Nokia, Android and Blackberry devices, and it is free of charge.



The application gives accurate results if the number or name being searched is already saved in one of your contact phonebook, and so it is useless for unidentified or random numbers. Numberbook supports several countries and all the application requires is an Internet (data or Wi-Fi) connection.



It is a useful application if one loses a contact number or forgets to save it, but it could be misused by some people who might try to invade other peoples privacy by getting their number. “Indeed its an invasion of privacy but it could be useful sometimes,” said Qusai Mukhtar, an IT specialist based in Jeddah.



Mukhtar said when the Numberbook application is downloaded on your phone the first thing the program does is take all contacts on your device and send all this information to Numberbook servers then include it with millions of other contacts.



Mukhtar doesn’t have the Numberbook application on his phone, he said: “The app could be misused just like everything else. A phone number is a private thing so it might cause trouble to some people who don’t even use the application.” Due to its large database, Numberbook probably gives 99 percent correct and valid results to its users. However, Rasha, a 27-year-old employee has a different opinion, said, “This application is somehow useless. I received a call from a stranger today and I tried searching for his number in the app but I didn’t get any results.”



On the other hand, Sara Hamad said that so far the application is working perfectly, especially while getting contacts for her work. “I work for the marketing so I need contacts and I was able to get accurate results from the app since I started using it few weeks ago.”