Caller ID Rules (Dynamic Caller IDs)
Create caller ID rules that pick the number shown on outbound calls for each destination, such as a country or a prefix, and apply them to your SIP accounts.
Caller ID rules overview
A caller ID rule (Dynamic Caller ID) decides which number the other side sees when your SIP account calls a destination. Each rule reads as one sentence: When calling United Kingdom, show +44 20 7946 0123.
For example, you are calling the UK from the US and want to appear as a local caller. A rule for United Kingdom that shows your UK number replaces your Caller ID on every call to the UK.
How CommPeak matches rules:
- A rule applies to All destinations, to one country, or to numbers starting with a prefix.
- When several rules of a SIP account match a call, the most specific one wins: the rule with the longest matching prefix (a country counts as its dial code), with All destinations last.
- An All destinations rule catches every call no other rule matches. Each SIP account needs one, or CommPeak rejects calls that match no rule.
- Many SIP accounts can share one rule. Editing a shared rule changes it for all of them.
Video tutorial
NOTEThe video was recorded with an earlier version of the portal. The steps are the same, but the screens look different.
Rules tab
All your rules are on the Rules tab of the Caller IDs page. To open it, expand VoIP Services in the left pane, select Caller IDs, and click the Rules tab.
Caller IDs > Rules tab in CommPeak Portal
Filter the list by Prefix, Caller ID Number, or Name, then click Search. Click Clear to reset the filters. To show more rules at once, select 25, 50, 100, or 250 in the list below the table.
| Column | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Name | The rule name |
| Calls to | The destination the rule applies to: All destinations, a country with its dial code, or Prefix followed by the digits |
| Caller ID shown | The number the other side sees, Set by caller (FROM), or Hidden (anonymous). A number that isn't verified appears in red with a Not verified badge and a Verify button. SIP accounts can't use such a rule until you verify the number. |
| Used by | How many SIP accounts use the rule. Click it to see their names and open any of them. Not used means no SIP account uses the rule. |
Row actions
Each row ends with two icons:
- The pencil icon - edit the rule.
- The trash icon - delete the rule. The icon is disabled while any SIP account uses the rule. Hover over it to see how many, and remove the rule from those SIP accounts first.
Adding a rule
To add a caller ID rule:
Open the rule panel
Click Add rule at the top right of the Caller IDs page. The New rule panel opens on the right. You can also click Create rule in the Caller ID rules panel of a SIP account.
Choose the destination
Under When calling, pick the calls the rule applies to. Type in the search box to find a country by name or dial code.
- All destinations - every call.
- Numbers starting with… - enter the digits the dialed numbers start with, for example 4420 for London.
- A country - all calls to that country's dial code.
Choose the number to show
Under Show this number, pick what the other side sees. Use the search box to find one of your numbers.
- Number sent by caller (FROM) - the number your SIP client or PBX sends. The hint below it says whether your account accepts any number or only verified ones, for example Calls are rejected unless verified CLI is used.
- Hidden (anonymous) - the other side sees no number. This option is available only when your account allows it. To enable it, contact support.
- One of your verified numbers - CommPeak DIDs and your own verified numbers, each labeled with its type, such as Your number.
- Another number - type any number with its country code. This option appears only when your account allows calling with any caller ID.
- Verify another number - verify a new number without leaving the rule.
New rule panel
Check the rule name
The Rule Name field at the top of the panel fills in from your choices, for example United Kingdom – +44 20 7946 0123, and the sentence below it shows what the rule does. To use your own name, type it in the field. To go back to the suggested name, clear the field or click Use suggested name.
Set a caller name (optional)
To show a name together with the number, expand More options and fill in Caller name. The other side sees the name only where the network supports it.
Save the rule
Click Create rule.
New rules don't change any calls until you apply them to a SIP account.
Verifying a number while creating a rule
If the number you want to show isn't listed, click Verify another number under Show this number. The verification steps open in the same panel:
Enter the number
Select the country and enter the number under Number.
Request the verification call
Wait until the Cloudflare security check below the field shows Success!, then click Make the Call.
Enter the code
Answer the call and type in the code you hear.
When the number is verified, the panel returns to your rule with the new number selected, and everything you entered is kept. To return without verifying, click Back to rule.
For details, see DID Verification: How to Verify Your External Caller IDs.
Editing a rule
Click the pencil icon of the rule on the Rules tab, or next to the rule in a SIP account's Caller ID rules panel. Change the rule in the Edit Caller ID Rule panel and click Save Rule.
If SIP accounts use the rule, the panel says how many: your changes apply to all of them.
Deleting a rule
Click the trash icon of the rule on the Rules tab and confirm.
IMPORTANTYou can't delete a rule that SIP accounts use, and its trash icon is disabled. First clear the rule in the Caller ID rules panel of every SIP account listed under Used by.
Applying rules to a SIP account
Rules apply to outgoing calls only after you select them in a SIP account.
Open SIP Accounts
Expand VoIP Services in the left pane and select SIP Accounts (Trunks).
Edit the account
Click the pencil icon of the SIP account you wish to change.
Select the rules
In the Caller ID rules panel, select the checkbox of each rule the account should use. Find rules with the search box (by country, number, or rule name), and switch between All and Selected to see every rule or only the selected ones.
The line at the top of the panel checks your selection as you go:
- Every destination has a caller ID - the selection is complete. It also shows the number used for all other destinations.
- Select an "All destinations" rule - CommPeak would reject calls that match no rule.
- Selected rule(s) use a number that is not verified - verify the number or clear the rule before saving.
Caller ID rules panel of a SIP account
Save the account
Click Save changes and confirm with your password.
NOTEA rule whose number isn't verified can't be selected: its checkbox is disabled, and the row shows Not verified with a Verify button (or Enter code if CommPeak already placed the verification call). Verify the number and the rule becomes available.
EXAMPLE 1You want calls to all destinations to pick one of several verified numbers at random.
Create one rule per number, all with When calling set to the same destination, for example All destinations.
In this example, we create them for the phone numbers 441632960393 and 441632960395:
Rule 1: When calling - All destinations, Show this number - 441632960393
Rule 2: When calling - All destinations, Show this number - 441632960395
Then select both rules in the SIP account. Each call to any destination shows one of the two numbers.
Updated 2 days ago