Automatic number identification (ANI) is a feature of telephony intelligent network services that permits subscribers to display or capture the telephone numbers of calling parties. In the United States it is part of Inward Wide Area Telephone Service (WATS). The ANI service was created by AT&T for internal long distance billing purposes, and is not related to newer caller ID services. Inward WATS is purchased by customers so that other telephone users (for example, prospective customers) can call the number toll free. The customer is issued a distinctive toll-free telephone number beginning with a special area code such as 800, or more recently, 888, 877, or 866. Subscribers to these numbers are typically called Inward WATS subscribers. In telecommunication, Telephony encompasses the general use of equipment to provide voice communication over distances. ... The Intelligent Network or I.N., as it is more commonly referred to, is a network architecture for both fixed and mobile telecommunication networks. ... Custom Local Area Signaling Services (CLASS) are PSTN telephony intelligent network services beyond simple voice transfer, such as caller ID (automatic number identification (ANI)), caller number blocking, automated call return, call blocking or screening, TCAP services, etc. ... A telephone number is a sequence of decimal digits that uniquely indicates the network termination point. ... In U.S. telecommunications, a Wide Area Telephone Service (WATS) is a toll service offering for customer dial-type telecommunications between a given customer [user] station and stations within specified geographic rate areas employing a single access line between the customer [user] location and the serving central office. ... AT&T Inc. ... Long distance in telecommunications, refers to telephone calls made outside a certain area, usually characterized by an area code outside of a local call area. ... Caller ID (caller identification or CID, and more properly calling number identification - CNID) is a telephony intelligent network service that transmits the callers telephone number and in some places the callers name to the called partys telephone equipment during the ringing signal or when the call is... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A telephone numbering plan is a system that allows subscribers to make and receive telephone calls across long distances. ...

A related piece of information conveyed to the Inward WATS subscriber is the Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS), the number that the caller dialed when accessing the service. With the information, the service provider can have several toll-free numbers directed to the same call center and provide unique service based on the number dialed. DNIS can also be used to identify other call routing information. For example, the WATS service can be configured to send a specific DNIS number that is assigned to callers from geographic regions based on city, area code, state, or country. This article needs to be wikified. ... A call centre (Commonwealth English) or call center (AmE) is a centralized office of a company that answers incoming telephone calls from customers(often for the purposes of product support) , or that makes outgoing telephone calls to customers (telemarketing). ...

ANI has two components, information digits, which identify the class of service^[1], and the calling party telephone number. The person who (or device that) initiates a telephone call over the public switched telephone network is the calling party. ...

Privacy

Because ANI is unrelated to caller ID, the caller's telephone number and line type are captured by ANI equipment even if caller ID blocking is activated. The destination telephone company switching office can relay the originating telephone number to ANI delivery services subscribers. Toll-free Inward WATS number subscribers and large companies normally have access to ANI information, either instantly via installed equipment, or from a monthly billing statement. Residential subscribers can obtain access to ANI information through third party companies that charge for the service. Caller ID (caller identification or CID, and more properly calling number identification - CNID) is a telephony service that transmits the callers telephone number to the called partys telephone equipment during the ringing signal or when the call is being set up but before the call is answered. ...

Similar services

• Europe: Calling Line Identification (CLI)
• UK: Caller Line Identification (CLID)
• Australia: Automatic number identification (ANI) 1800801920

Caller ID (caller identification or CID, and more properly calling number identification - CNID) is a telephony intelligent network service that transmits the callers telephone number and in some places the callers name to the called partys telephone equipment during the ringing signal or when the call is... Caller ID (caller identification or CID, and more properly calling number identification - CNID) is a telephony intelligent network service that transmits the callers telephone number and in some places the callers name to the called partys telephone equipment during the ringing signal or when the call is...

Notes

1. ^ ANI II Digits. North American Numbering Plan Administration (2003). Retrieved on 2007-07-06.