Skip to content

Configure Caller ID

There are two distinct caller ID concepts in UnifiedBX:

  1. Internal CID — what other extensions on the system see when this extension calls them. Set on the extension's Display Name.
  2. Outbound CID — what external parties see on their caller ID when this extension calls out. Set on the extension's Outbound CID, the outbound route's Route CID, or the trunk's CID — in that resolution order.

This page covers both, plus inbound CID manipulation via the CallerID Management module.

Before You Start

  • You know whether you're changing internal CID, outbound CID, or rewriting inbound CID.
  • For outbound CID: the trunk allows the CID you want to send (some carriers reject mismatched CIDs).

Set Internal CID (other extensions see this)

  1. Go to User Attributes → Extensions.
  2. Click the extension.
  3. General Tab → Display Name — e.g. Jane Doe.
  4. Click Submit, then Apply Config.

Set Outbound CID (external callers see this)

Outbound CID is checked in this order. The first non-empty match wins:

  1. Trunk has CID Options = "Force Trunk CID" — that overrides everything below.
  2. Outbound Route → Route CID — applies to all calls on this route.
  3. Extension → Outbound CID — applies to this extension's outbound calls.
  4. Trunk's default Outbound CID — fallback if nothing else is set.

To set per-extension Outbound CID:

  1. Go to User Attributes → Extensions → click the extension.
  2. General Tab → Outbound CID — format: "Display Name" <NPANXXXXXX>. E.g. "WTG Sales" <2075551234>.
  3. Submit, Apply Config.

To set per-route Route CID:

  1. Go to Trunk Attributes → Outbound Routes → click the route.
  2. Route Settings → Route CID — same format.
  3. Override Extension — Yes to force the route CID over any extension setting.
  4. Submit, Apply Config.

Rewrite Inbound CID (CallerID Management module)

Use this to override or normalize incoming caller IDs before they hit the dialplan — e.g. add a prefix, strip carrier-prepended digits, or replace anonymous CIDs with a label.

  1. Go to User Attributes → CallerID Management.
  2. Click + Add CIDLookup (or the appropriate button on this version).
  3. Configure the lookup source — internal phonebook, external HTTP, or a manual rewrite list.
  4. Submit, Apply Config.
  5. On the Inbound Route that should use it, set CID Lookup Source.

Verify

For outbound CID:

# Place a call from the extension and watch the trunk-side CID:
asterisk -rvvvv
# Look for the line "from 'Display Name' <number>" being sent on the trunk.

For internal CID, just call extension to extension and check the receiver's display.

Common Issues

  • Outbound CID change ignored. Trunk has Force Trunk CID enabled, or carrier strips/replaces the CID. Check trunk settings and call the carrier.
  • Carrier rejects the call ("invalid CID" or 503). They allow only verified DIDs as outbound CID. Set Outbound CID to a DID provisioned on that trunk.
  • CID Name shows as a number on cell phones. Cell carriers do their own CNAM lookup against the number, not the name UnifiedBX sends. To get the right name, register a CNAM record with the carrier (separate process).
  • Internal calls show "Unknown." Display Name is blank — set it on the extension.