Do Search Engines Try To Follow Phone Number Links

[Lions-Pro]

Any SEO thoughts on using rel="nofollow" when inserting a link to a phone number?

To make a phone number click to call we use  (555) 555-1234

Wondering if search engines are trying to follow that link or if this is standard and not to worry. Any thoughts on if I should add rel="nofollow" to these or does it not matter?

Thanks!

[Lions-Pro]

Thanks Mike. I do get an occasional 404 on those phone numbers, but not a lot. Was more concerned about having links that were really not links and passing equity to nowhere. Appreciate the response!

[Lions-Pro]

Thanks Eric appreciate the answer! That is what I though but thought why not ask...

[MikeRoberts]

While a bot might try to follow it (because it is, in it simplest form, a type of link), that will not in any way adversely affect you.  That tel: in the tag will tip them off that it is a telephone number and/or should be click-to-call. So no link equity will be lost, you won't start seeing tons of 404 warnings, or anything of that sort.

[GlobeRunner]

They certainly will make note of those phone numbers, but since the phone number is not a web page there's no way to pass on "link juice" to it. So, there's really no reason to mark it as a nofollow link.