Everything You Need to Know About Caller ID

Let’s be honest about the fact that many of us have relied on caller ID to help us
prioritize whether we should take a phone call at the moment or not. This isn’t to
suggest that you’re ignoring important phone calls or trying to avoid people—even
though some of us are tempted to do that from time to time!

But caller IDs can help us avoid people who are not making productive use of our time,
or they can help us decide that we’re going to call a person back later because we’re
expecting another more important call to come in within the next few minutes. Whatever
the reason, caller ID can be an important and convenient resource for us in the fast-
paced culture of modern communication.

With that understanding, you may have questions about caller ID, including how it
works, how it can be beneficial, and how we should think of it in the context of business
operations.

What is Caller ID?

Although caller ID might have once been a novelty 30 or even 20 years ago, it’s now
commonplace, so much so that it’s easy to take for granted. Caller ID is a feature that
lets any of us who are receiving a phone call see who it is that’s calling us. This gives us
an element of control over our communication:
● Do I want to take this call?
● Am I prepared to take this call, or do I need to prepare for it before responding?
● Is there another more important call I need to take?

Ignoring calls might sound rude in theory, but remember that sometimes you can
provide better service to a caller if you have the answers to questions you expect them
to ask or if you are in a place where you can give them your undivided attention. Caller
ID helps you make these decisions.

Two Different Sources of Caller ID

There are two main sources of caller ID, just as there are two main types of phones that
modern callers use: there are landline carriers and cellphone providers. Both source
their caller ID data slightly differently:

Landline caller ID

A landline phone relies on what’s known as CNAM, an abbreviated form of Calling
Name Delivery. CNAM records are managed by a landline phone carrier and will often
display a name registered with the corresponding phone number. If you receive a call
on a landline telephone, the name from the CNAM database will show up on a person’s
caller ID. This information can only be updated by contacting the service provider of the
party making the call.

Cellphone Caller ID

With a cellphone, it’s a little different. Cell service providers don’t rely on the same
CNAM databases and instead get information from a data provider that they have
enlisted to provide such details. In the past, your cellphone would show you a person’s
name if you had their contact info saved in your phone. This is changing. Several of
these data services will match a name to the caller helping to provide more robust
information such as a more detailed name (CNAM is limited to 15 characters) and
whether the caller has a poor reputation so that the call can be flagged as spam. The
major providers of these services have all worked together to create a single reporting
portal so businesses don’t have to go to several places to get their information updated,
the Free Caller Registry.

Free Caller Registry

So, what does this discrepancy between landline caller ID and cellphone caller ID
mean? Now that mobile communication is much more common than landline, some
service providers have striven to combine the two databases and create a more unified
— and, in turn, more accurate — system. The Free Caller Registry is one such platform.
This is an independent website where you can register and update your caller ID details
regardless of the carrier you use.
Once you register your number with the Free Caller Registry, you can update your
details independently without having to go through a landline or mobile provider. You
have direct and straightforward control over your information. This lets you keep your
information up to date, even if you switch phone numbers or change your name.

Dealing With Incorrect Caller ID or Spam Flags

Here’s a scenario that nobody wants to think about: Somehow, the wrong name
(personal or business) is attributed to your number or it somehow gets flagged as spam.
The next time you go to make a business call, somebody sees a SPAM CALL come up
on their caller ID, and they’re going to be more inclined to ignore you.
This is why it’s so important to take advantage of the free caller registry and keep your
personal information up to date. This lets you request changes and remove spam flags
from your number to ensure accuracy in all your communication. This is something you

want to look into doing if you recently switched carriers or made changes to your
number. This prevents misunderstandings and ensures your business contacts see your
incoming calls as legitimate.

You want to maximize your communication with everyone in your professional
circle, so make sure your information is updated and accurate. For more
guidance on how to improve your communication, contact our team at Office
Phones Plus by calling 410-834-4900.