In this day and age we are less and less likely to use the many phone books that wind up on our door step, except as a door stop. We live in the information age where we have the internet at our fingertips at all hours of the day.
With our phones having the internet we can simply access web sites like Yellowbook.com and find any and every number possible or we could simply dial 411 for information. All you need is someone's name to find their phone number over the phone. Those same phones have their own phone directory leaving the dialing to just the push of a few buttons.
It is a far cry from not so many years ago when the phone book was the only way to find a phone number either to a person or a business. The alphabetical organization of the names made it slightly easier to use, but there have been many people who have pulled away from that book with ink all over their fingers and they still didn't find what they needed simply because their friend was unlisted.
Now a days you don't even need to call a friend or business to get a hold of them, you e mail them. With goods and services online you can find what you are looking for easier than ever. No more hours of shuffling pages and calling just to be told that a business does not have what you need. Instant messaging has also eliminated the need to even call a friend let alone know their phone number.