How to find out which mobile carrier someone is with

[Ext User(WordUP)]

Forgive me if this is an FAQ...

Many mobile companies offer cheap calls to subscribers on the same
network. Is there a way to find out who someone is with, given the
mobile phone number?

Cheers
Tom

PS: I know I can punch in that number, press the green button and ask
them. Any other suggestions?

[Ext User(Rod Speed)]

WordUP <thomas.voirol@gmail.com> wrote

> Forgive me if this is an FAQ...

Completely unforgivable.

> Many mobile companies offer cheap calls
> to subscribers on the same network.

Not that many now.

> Is there a way to find out who someone
> is with, given the mobile phone number?

Nope.

> PS: I know I can punch in that number,
> press the green button and ask them.

Even that wont always work, many of those
who answer the call wont even know.

> Any other suggestions?

Make a call to that number, see if it gets charged at the cheap rate.

Bit of a problem with Optarse because you
have to wait most of a month to find that out.

[Ext User(Giles)]

> Is there a way to find out who someone is with, given the
> mobile phone number?
> I know I can punch in that number, press the green button and ask
> them. Any other suggestions?

Not useful in all cases, but if you've received SMS from that person,
check the sending SMSC (message centre) number - you should be able to
identify the carrier from that number.
http://www.aca.gov.au/pls/numb/

Should work if your el-cheapo rate is to a *carrier* (eg Optus 'yes'
Time works to all Optus GSM, including resellers), but probably won't
be of use to you if the cheap rate is to a subset of that carrier's
subscribers (eg calls to Telstra PP+, or calls to Optus Pre-Paid).