What is CNAM?
CNAM, short for Caller Name, is the feature that displays the name associated with a phone number during a call. It enhances caller ID by adding a name to the phone number, such as "Tech Support" or "Customer Help." This feature is particularly useful for business lines, helping recipients quickly recognize who is calling.
Character Limit for CNAM
CNAM is limited to 15 characters, including spaces and punctuation. This limitation is a telecommunications industry standard and cannot be changed.
When selecting a CNAM, keep it short and relevant, for example:
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"Tech Support"
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"Customer Help"
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"Billing Team"
If a name exceeds the 15-character limit, it will be truncated. For instance:
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"Solutions Group" will appear as "Solutions Gro"
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"Customer Service" will appear as "Customer Serv"
How CNAM Updates Work
Submission Process
When a CNAM update is requested:
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The requested name is submitted to the phone carrier providing your number.
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The carrier updates the information in national CNAM databases, which are referenced by telecommunication providers across the U.S.
Propagation Time
CNAM updates generally take 7–10 business days to fully propagate to all carrier networks. In some cases, the process can take up to 15 business days due to variations between providers.
Carrier-Specific Behavior
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Not all carriers support CNAM, particularly for certain VOIP or wireless services. If the recipient’s carrier does not support CNAM, only your phone number will be displayed.
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The displayed CNAM depends on the recipient’s carrier system and settings.
Limitations: Saved Contacts on Cell Phones
CNAM is overridden if the person you are calling has saved your number in their contacts. For example:
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If your number is saved as "Jane's Phone," the saved name will display instead of the CNAM.
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CNAM is only visible when the recipient’s phone does not already associate the number with a saved contact.
What to Expect After a Change
Testing the Update: Once the CNAM is updated, you may notice the new name appearing on some networks earlier than others. This is normal during the propagation period.
CNAM May Not Appear: Certain types of calls, such as international or app-based calls (e.g., VOIP services), may not display CNAM. This limitation is due to how the receiving network processes caller ID.
Truncation: Remember that CNAM longer than 15 characters will be shortened automatically when displayed.
Issues After Propagation: If the updated CNAM does not appear consistently after the propagation period, contact your service provider for assistance