What on earth?

Posts: 281 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:25 pm Post subject: What on earth?

Can anyone explain why my ANI is showing up as: 973-954-4049 instead of my phone number when I call someone? My phone number is a 570-606-xxxx number.

I've double checked this by dialing: 1-800-437-7950 and it reports by ANI as being wrong as well.

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:30 pm Post subject:

I've seen this discussed a few times. here are some links:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,8742630~mode=flat
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,7986373?hilite=ani
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/remark,11922183~mode=flat

Posts: 281 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:45 pm Post subject:

Perhaps then a better question would be.

Why is my Scranton, PA number showing up as "Harrisburg, PA" when I call services like Tell-Me? 1-800-555-TELL? Is that a tell-me issue or a Vonage issue?

And how does one get around the ANI issue for calling places that rely on ANI to route calls to offices in different states?

Posts: 3198 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:52 pm Post subject:

I'm not sure how they get around it besides another phone (cell or otherwise). does harrisburg have the same area code? even a small part of it? if you got a new number from vonage, it's possible to get an area code local with an exchange that's not (but I think you're aware of those anomalies). I assume tell-me used to say scranton?
speaking of scranton, I was there in october. that cove haven place nearby has some crazy rooms. and free wifi in the airport! mmm...

Posts: 281 · Posted: Thu Dec 30, 2004 8:55 pm Post subject:

Nope... tell-me never said Scranton. Harrisburg also is an entirely different area code (717) so I dunno... what's going on. Of course my verizon wireless cell which has a Williamsport number makes tell-me say 'Wilkes-Barre' AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Posts: 19 · Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2004 12:18 am Post subject: Re: What on earth?

matth wrote:

Can anyone explain why my ANI is showing up as: 973-954-4049 instead of my phone number when I call someone? My phone number is a 570-606-xxxx number.

I've double checked this by dialing: 1-800-437-7950 and it reports by ANI as being wrong as well.

973-954 is Newark, NJ... Coincidentally that's where Vonage's outbound gateways are located.

ANI is handled a little differently for 800 numbers because the numbers are used to determine billing, and are shown on a call detail list every month for most carriers. Even if you had your outbound CallerID blocked, the remote party gets the originating number listed on their bill because they are paying for the call.

My guess is because of that billing mechanism for 800 numbers, they are picking up the true origninating ANI of the PSTN gateway you are being routed through, and not the masqueraded ANI information it presents for normal CallerID applications.