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Caller ID

Updated 2026-09-30 · By the ZuteSIP team (ZuteSIP Inc.)

Short answer: Caller ID is the calling party's phone number (and sometimes a name) delivered to the recipient's phone before they answer. It lets people decide whether to pick up and call back. On SIP calls, the number travels in headers such as From and P-Asserted-Identity.

The number your contacts see shapes whether they answer, so a local number in their country often helps.

How it works

The originating network sends the calling number with the call setup. Displaying a name is a separate lookup (CNAM in North America). Regulators such as the FCC prohibit spoofing caller ID with intent to defraud or cause harm, and frameworks like STIR/SHAKEN sign caller ID to fight spoofing.

Caller ID, caller name and call signing

ElementHow it works
Calling numberSent by the originating network with the call setup
Caller nameA separate lookup (CNAM in North America)
STIR/SHAKENSigns caller ID to fight spoofing

How it applies to ZuteSIP

In the ZuteSIP browser web dialer, you choose any of your own numbers as caller ID for outgoing calls, with nothing to install. Each number includes 1,000 outgoing minutes per month.

Related terms

  • CNAM
  • STIR/SHAKEN
  • Web dialer
  • Local number

Frequently asked questions

Can I show a different number as caller ID?

In the web dialer you can pick any number you own on ZuteSIP.

Does caller ID show my name?

Name display depends on the recipient's carrier; CNAM is not a listed ZuteSIP feature.

Why use a local caller ID?

People are generally more comfortable answering a number from their own country.

Related pages

Sources