@somercet @nonservator The only reason an unlisted number cost more was because the phone company knew they could charge you for the service, and depending on your carrier, there was differing levels of unlisted (and cost,) from "not in the white pages" to "not available from directory service either." There's no technical reason that it should cost more beyond a single removal fee that tells the computer billing systems that this number isn't to be released to printing or assistance. It's like the charges GPS manufacturers used to add on to their units for local traffic service. It was already there, but they sold you a "subscription" because they could. Literally - Ma Bell has been using computers to bill and track phone service probably longer than anyone currently on this board.

Don't think that the phone book isn't full of gamed ads and SEO tricks. I can call my business AAAAAAA Best Plumbing, and I'll be at the front of the book, before your AAA Best Plumbing business, and both of us will be behind the promoted ad that ZZZZZ Worst Plumbing paid to have inserted at the beginning of the Plumbers list. Remember that the phone book and directories aren't to tell you about businesses, they are to sell ads - can't count how many calls my employer gets from YP companies wanting to sell us adspace.

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