
Started in 1996 as a hobby, WhitePages has become the largest independent provider of contact information on the Internet. See how we got there.
2008
200 million and counting! WhitePages adds contact information for nearly 20 million U.S. adults, bringing the total number of contacts in the WhitePages database to 200 million—nearly 90% of the U.S. adult population.
More in 2008
- For the fifth consecutive year, WhitePages is recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the 100 fastest-growing private companies in the Pacific Northwest (#92).
- For the fourth consecutive year, WhitePages is recognized by Deloitte as one of the 50 fastest-growing technology companies in the Pacific Northwest (#14).
- WhitePages launches its iPhone application—which, within the first month, becomes one of the top ten free iPhone applications. Within two months, consumers use the application for more than 2.5 million searches.
- The U.S. Postal Service selects WhitePages to power its Post Office Locator. This customized solution enables USPS customers to search and navigate the nearly 37,000 Post Office Locations and postal services on the USPS site.
- WhitePages begins powering AOL White Pages, bringing its services to 60 million unique visitors on the largest online local network.
- WhitePages acquires Snapvine, a Seattle-based company that develops products to bring voice and mobility to social networks and websites.
- WhitePages begins powering MSN’s white-pages channel in the U.S., giving millions of MSN users free access to WhitePages listings via a link on the MSN homepage.
- For the first time, WhitePages makes a free search API available to developers. A “Power to the People (Search)!” contest challenges developers to create useful applications—new iPhone and Facebook applications are winners.
2007
The laurels keep coming: For the third consecutive year, WhitePages is recognized by Deloitte as one of the 500 fastest-growing technology companies in North America (#119). For the fourth consecutive year, it is recognized by the Puget Sound Business Journal as one of the 100 fastest-growing private companies in the Pacific Northwest (#39).
More in 2007
- WhitePages adds contact information for 60 million U.S. adults, bringing the total number of contacts in its database to 180 million, or 80% of the U.S. adult population.
- WhitePages celebrates the 10th anniversary of the site’s initial launch.
- WhitePages launches its Work Listings service, providing access to more than 17 million work-related listings, including phone number, street address, company name, and job title.
- For the second consecutive year, Seattle Business Monthly includes WhitePages as a "Best Place to Work" in its annual issue. Recognition is based on employee feedback, benefits and health coverage, tuition reimbursement, performance reviews, and management practices.
- WhitePages Mobile is selected as a finalist for the Washington Software Alliance (WSA) 2007 Consumer Product of the Year.
2006
WhitePages wraps up 2006 with record revenue and strong consumer traction, significantly boosting its ranking as one of the most trafficked sites on the Web. Consumers conducted more than 1.8 billion searches that year, saving nearly $2 billion in landline directory assistance fees.
More in 2006
- WhitePages is named the 73rd fastest-growing technology company in North America, according to the Deloitte Technology Fast 500, and the third fastest-growing technology company in the Pacific Northwest, according to the Deloitte Technology Fast 50.
- WhitePages is named to the Inc. 500 for the second consecutive year. With nearly 800% growth since 2002, the company is the 123rd fastest growing private company in the U.S.
- WhitePages launches a beta version of its mobile site, enabling directory lookup for consumers with web-enabled mobile devices.
- Seattle Metropolitan Magazine and Seattle Business Monthly both name WhitePages a best company to work for.
- According to comScore Media Metrix, WhitePages is the 38th most trafficked site on the Internet, reaching more than 20 million unique users in the U.S. and Canada-a statistic representing 300% growth over three years. WhitePages finishes 2005 as the most-trafficked directory assistance website.
2005
WhitePages begins powering MSN's white-pages channel in the U.S., positioning it as the nation's largest online residential directory assistance service in the U.S.
More in 2005
- The Deloitte Fast 500, Inc., and the Puget Sound Business Journal name WhitePages among the fastest-growing companies in the region and nation.
- WhitePages earns a spot on the Top 50 Ad-Focused Websites list, as measured by comScore Media Metrix.
- WhitePages begins powering lookups on Verizon's SuperPages.com, making WhitePages the exclusive online white-pages provider for three of the four largest U.S. telephone companies.
- In January 2005, for the fourth consecutive year, WhitePages announces that revenue and profits for the past year doubled those of the previous year.
2004
WhitePages acquires 411.com, the number-eight directory assistance portal, which draws more than a half million unique visitors per month and is a highly recognized brand.
2003
WhitePages continues on a path of consistent profitability, experiencing triple-digit year-over-year revenue and profit increases. Monthly user averages grow 80% over 2002.
2002
During an economic downturn, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer article "A Few Gems Rise Out Of The Dot-Com Slag Heap" trumpets WhitePages as a Seattle Internet company that has never lost money.
2001
Building on its trusted brand reputation, growing name recognition, and recognized consumer benefit, WhitePages serves up more than 20 million page views per month.
2000
WhitePages is incorporated. Its mission: to provide consumers with free, fast, and accurate online residential directory assistance. The company transforms itself into a profitable business within its first year.
1999
WhitePages expands its best-in-class directory-assistance service, using an internally hosted enhanced database. With the help of a growing staff, the site becomes one of the first online services to offer true nationwide search without the need for state-by-state queries.
1998
Moonlighting from his Wall Street day job, founder Alex Algard continues to enhance WhitePages. The site becomes one of the first free online directory assistance services, with access to more than 100 million U.S. white-pages listings and phone number reverse-lookup functionality.
1997
WhitePages goes live with its first content, serving as an information resource on telephone white pages with links to leading directories.
1996
After experiencing the frustration of searching in vain for an old friend on the Internet, and dialing 411 just to get the wrong information, Alex Algard has a "light-bulb moment." He realizes that there should be an easier and less costly way to access directory information online. He starts WhitePages as a hobby out of his dorm room at Stanford University.
Nov 2000:
Nathan Webb and Alex Algard attempt to close recruit over dinner at The Keg. Their credit cards are declined. Recruit pays for himself and turns down the job offer.