The phones I've had and those of some friends all just show a number
> for caller ID but not a name. On my home phone these same callers will
> show with name and number. Is it certain phones, or certain services,
> or the whole cell/mobile system that drops the name? And why? Caller
> ID loses most of its value when the name is dropped.
If you are talking about display of caller ID on a cell phone, the cell phone network does not transmit name. If a name is displayed in caller ID on a cell phone, that is because you have the name and number in your cell phone's phonebook.
Also, cell phone subscribers often do not have their names in the database for caller ID names that are transmitted to wireline phones. Often the name in the database is the name of the company, or "wireless caller", or the name of the city where the phone is registered. A few companies will register names.
-- Mark --
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is two wolves and a sheep deciding what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed sheep contesting the vote.