Caller ID (Also known as ANI - Automatic Number Identification) is a phone system feature that allows you to receive the number of the calling party on incoming calls.  For Caller ID/ANI to work on your system three things need to happen:

• Your phone system must be configured to handle the incoming ANI.  This feature is not always included with every phone system.  You may have to check with your phone system vendor to see if ANI is supported for your system.  If you are using digital trunking, you will probably need PRI trunks in order to receive ANI information.

• Your incoming trunks need to be configured to send ANI information.  The copper or digital trunks that come in from your trunk vendor need to be enabled to send ANI information.  There is usually a fee associated with activating this this feature, and usually an additional monthly charge.

• The Call Accounting Port on your phone system needs to be configured to send ANI.  On some systems you need to set the correct format on the SMDR port on your phone system before ANI information can be captured in the Call Accounting Records.

As incoming calls are recorded by the Call Accounting Software, the system can record the ANI of the incoming call.  this file allows you to associate a name along with the incoming ANI.  By associating a name, you have the ability to show the name in the call detail reporting along with the ANI information.