Automatic Number Identification is a telecom network feature that transmits the caller's billing number to the receiving equipment. Unlike standard Caller ID, which can be blocked or spoofed by the user, this signal is generated by the telephone exchange for billing and routing purposes. It is heavily used by toll-free services and emergency dispatch centers to guarantee accurate caller identification.
The customer claims they didn't make the call, but the ANI matches their primary line perfectly.
Also heard as
- Automatic Number Identification
Do not mix it up with
- CLI: CLI is the caller ID presented to the end user and can be blocked, while ANI is the underlying billing number used by the network and cannot be blocked by the caller.
Related terms
CLI
A command-line interface is a text-based user interface used to configure and manage network devices and operating systems.
PBX
A private telephone network used within a company or organization.
Call center
A centralized facility equipped to handle large volumes of inbound or outbound telephone requests.