VoIP Web>AsteriskVoIPCNAMServiceComparison (2011-07-24, JeffreyWeitz)EditAttach

Asterisk / VoIP CNAM ( Caller ID Name ) Comparison

So, I just wanted to give a quick comparison on some of the available CNAM services geared toward Asterisk / VoIP end users and call centers.

First, let me say that I'm not hiding the fact that I myself run one of these services, CallerIDService.com.

There aren't a lot of companies providing CNAM services to the typical Asterisk / VoIP PBX end user which can be frustrating given the number of VoIP providers who don't provide this basic service that most people have come to expect to be included in their phone service.

CNAM is essentially a network of databases which contain the name of the customer who owns each phone number. This data is managed by the phone companies who provide the phone numbers to their clients. So, if you have a phone number through Verizon, this information is typically updated by Verizon.

The simple reason that many VoIP carriers don't provide this service is that it's not free. There are administrative costs, equipment costs and processing costs associated with retrieving the name for a given phone number since the CNAM data is stored in a database which costs money to maintain and access.

With VoIP becoming more popular by the minute, CNAM services are more frequently being provided by larger database maintainers who have access to all of the major phone companies data. This means that no longer are you limited to the CNAM data provided solely by the database maintained by your own carrier. This means better accuracy and more results. You may notice your out of area calls on your home phone displaying just a city and state which is generally because your carrier doens't do a CNAM databae dip for out of network phone numbers to keep costs down.

Anyway, if you're like the many VoIP subscribers without caller ID name on inbound calls, you can easily add this service through a third party.

Integration of CNAM on your Asterisk or VoIP PBX

Amoung the providers of CNAM services to VoIP users, almost all of these services allow basic HTTP requests using a custom URL that contains your authentication information and phone number that you want to lookup in the CNAM database.

Implementation is generally pretty easy if you are familiar with your PBX software. Sometimes, implementation requires manual configuraiton changes outside of the basic web interface type plug and play features that may be offered for your VoIP solution.

Plain Asterisk users will typically have to add a priority to an extension in whatever context receives inbound calls. This may involve adding a curl command or Fast AGI command depending on what delivery options are available by the provider that you choose.

Available Providers

While this may not be a complete list, it's certainly a list of the most commonly used CNAM providers and their features, costs, etc.

CallerIDService .com

Costs

CallerIDService .com provides a flat retail rate of $.009 per query. Unavailable results are free.

They also provide high volume prices above 25,000 queries with a volume commitment.

Please see http://calleridservice.com/pricing.html for current per query prices, currently $0.009 per query and volume discounts available.

Montly Fess or setup charges

None. No setup charges or monthly maitenance fees. So you pay only for the queries that you use.

Delivery and Implementation Options

CallerIDService .com provides several options for implementing CNAM services on your PBX system.

Standard HTTP Lookup
Asterisk Fast AGI
Switchvox XML configurable via the URL Manager
Custom implementation if you have other requests such as a custom XML schema, DNS query or other delivery requirement

Known Compatablity

Advertised compatablity:

Asterisk 1.2 / 1.4 / 1.6
trixbox CE
trixbox PRO
Fonality PBX products
Switchvox
FreePBX
FreeSWITCH

VoIPCNAM .com

Costs

$0.02 per query after monthly included query limit of 25 queries is reached. The first 25 queries are included with a $2.00 monthly account maitenance fee charged at the beginning of the month.

What this means is that the first 25 queries costs $.08 per query and then $.02 per query after 25. There are no other advertised volume discounts or rates.