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Custom CNAM: Overview and Limitations

A quick overview of Custom CNAM, how it works, limitations, carrier compatibility and associated costs.

Updated over 9 months ago

Custom CNAM (Caller Name) allows you to display a personalized name on the recipient's phone instead of showing just your phone number. This can enhance recognition and trust when calling your customers or contacts.

However, there are important limitations to understand before choosing this option:

How CNAM Works

  • CNAM is not directly transmitted along with your call. Instead, when a call is received, the recipient’s phone carrier performs a lookup in a database to identify your registered caller name.

Carrier Compatibility

  • Not all phone carriers support CNAM lookups. If any carrier or network involved in the call path doesn't support CNAM, the recipient will see only your phone number, not your customized caller name.

Number-Specific Setup

  • CNAM must be set up individually for each phone number you use. If you regularly rotate or use multiple numbers for outbound calls, maintaining CNAM can become impractical since each number requires separate registration.

Associated Costs

  • Setting up and maintaining CNAM typically involves setup fees, ongoing maintenance, remediation, or subscription costs. These costs generally range from tens to hundreds of dollars per number, depending on the service provider.

If you are interested in setting up Custom CNAM or have additional questions, please contact our support team.

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