Caller I.D. lacks name information

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Level 1

24 points

Caller I.D. lacks name information

I know my phone provider includes caller name i.d. along with phone number. I have my landline set up so it rings my iPhone simultaneously. So I know my iPhone is receiving both the number AND the name of whoever is calling me. But the iPhone only shows a name if it's someone in my Contacts (and then only shows the name and not the number). With so many junk calls coming in every day I'd like to see whatever information comes in with every call so I can decide whether to pick up. Why doesn't Apple show me everything?

Posted on May 11, 2018 4:29 PM

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Answer 1

May 11, 2018 4:43 PM in response to Jim Houghton

Caller ID is just a phone number, caller name is known as "CNAM" and that comes out of a database that your carrier can tap into for incoming calls (not all carriers do this). It could very well be that that cellular networks don't support CNAM, but there are some 3rd party apps in the Android world that will decode an incoming call for you to provide a name. I don't know if there is a similar app for iOS, but this is more of a carrier/software issue than the hardware itself.

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Answer 2

May 11, 2018 6:10 PM in response to Jim Houghton

I understand your situation, but there's a difference between how your TV is receiving calling information vs. how a cell phone receives it (is your landline actually a VOIP connection bundled with your cable service?) Whoever your cellular provider is, it would be up to them to support CNAM for incoming calls, whether they are placed directly to your iPhone or forwarded from your landline.

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Answer 3

LACAllen

Level 8

43,668 points

May 11, 2018 5:03 PM in response to Jim Houghton

Why doesn't Apple show me everything?

Apple shows what it has been given by the carrier.

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Answer 4

Jim Houghton Author

Level 1

24 points

May 11, 2018 5:46 PM in response to rockmyplimsoul

I hear you. But I'm sitting there watching TV and the phone rings -- on my TV screen up pops the incoming NAME and PHONE NUMBER -- so obviously my TW carrier is pushing the information to me. Simultaneously, my iPhone rings and shows only the number (or it would show the name if it were someone in my contacts -- but never both). Having the name of a number not-in-contacts is a great way to know if it's my new doctor calling or "Congressional Republican Fundraising Committee."

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Caller I.D. lacks name information

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