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.
The FCC 1995 decision that mandated Caller ID required that only the number be sent. The name service is an industry enhancement that is strictly optional. There have been unending squabbles within the greedy little minions that run the telcos who should pay for what to have name delivery.
Don't ever expect universal delivery of names.