I'm looking for a CallerID identification device to plug into a
computer, via Serial or USB would be fine, to allow me to develop
applications which pull up the record of the caller to the computer
operator before the call is answered.

I understand there are two standards in the world, PSTN and DTMF?, and
I'm interested in locating a single line device which supports both or
at least DTMF.

To satisfy this question, a URL of where this device is sold anywhere
around the world should be supplied with clarification information on
the diffirent types of CallerID.

Thank you.

Dear lizardnation:

Yes-Tele sells a box called the "Identifier" which does expressly
this. It is available in 2, 4, and 8 line models. All of these models
can be daisy chained together in case you need more lines. It is a
serial connection. Here's some information I pulled from their
website:

"When in Event mode the Identifier will report all activity on each of
the 8 telephone lines. These activities are:
Off-Hook Outgoing 
Off Hook Incoming 
Ringing Start 
Ringing Stop 
On-Hook 
Touch Tone Digit 
Caller Name & Number 
These activities are transmitted to the computer via an RS-232 serial
connection at 4800 baud utilizing an ASCII instruction set. The
Identifier may be programed to enable or disable each of these
events."

The product's website is linked below:
http://www.yes-tele.com/mlm.html

Here is some information on DTMF and PSTN, taken from the Lycos
Webopaedia:

"DTMF 
Short for Dual Tone Multi-Frequency, the system used by touch-tone
telephones. DTMF assigns a specific frequency, or tone, to each key so
that it can easily be identified by a microprocessor. "
http://webopedia.lycos.com/TERM/D/DTMF.html

"PSTN: 
Short for Public Switched Telephone Network, which refers to the
international telephone system based on copper wires carrying analog
voice data. This is in contrast to newer telephone networks base on
digital technologies, such as ISDN and FDDI.

Telephone service carried by the PSTN is often called plain old
telephone service (POTS). "
http://webopedia.lycos.com/TERM/P/PSTN.html

In addition, Gandalf's Phreaking page has a good primer on the PSTN
and DTMF systems. Although written from a hacker viewpoint, it is
nonetheless an easy and clear source of information:
http://www.exegesis.uklinux.net/gandalf/phreak/pstn.htm


Search Terms Used:
    
    "Caller ID" computer hardware
    ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22+Caller+ID+%22+computer+hardware

    DTMF PSTN 
    ://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=DTMF+PSTN+&btnG=Google+Search


As always, if you need any clarifications, please don't hesitate to
ask. I would be more than happy to assist you further. =)

Best Regards,
blader-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by lizardnation-ga on 06 May 2002 06:57 PDT

I've located the site in February and they've stated that they use FSK
CallerID and not DTMF which will not work for most of Europe, the
middle east and Asia from what was explained to me.

Here is the e-mail I've exchanged with them back then:

-----------------------
From: Patrick Young [mailto:pyoung@yes-tele.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, February 06, 2002 5:46 PM
Subject: RE: Identifier Caller ID and Line Monitor

Our Identifier currently only supports U.S. Bellcore Caller Id
signaling where the caller id data comes between the first and second
ring in an FSK format.

Patrick Young
YES Telecom
pyoung@yes-tele.com
http://www.yes-tele.com
(954) 344-7665

------------------------

Would you look for the information again?

/Lizardnation-ag

---

Clarification of Answer by blader-ga on 06 May 2002 14:52 PDT

Dear lizardnation:

I received the following information from Allied Data Technology:
"If you are somewhere like Finland and your phone company uses the
DTMF system, then you are restricted to Intertex modems (also sold as
Powerbit and Telia). The Tornado SFM560 is the only modem I know of
that works with the DTMF system in the Netherlands (T11-12?). It comes
in serial ('E') and USB ('USB') external versions.  The same company
makes the Tron DF56.0, which is also compatible, but I suspect it's a
lot more expensive - it appears to be aimed at callcentres or
similar."

Here is the link to the Tornado SFM560: 
http://www.allieddata.nl/asp/products_product.asp?menu=products&productid=17&Spec=1

It operates on a USB connection. Perhaps this product might fulfill
your needs?

As always if it doesn't, I would be more than happy to assist you
further.

Best Regards,
blader-ga

---

Request for Answer Clarification by lizardnation-ga on 07 May 2002 04:23 PDT

Hello Blader,

Now that's more like it. :-)

Thanks a whole lot!

/Lizardnation.

---

Clarification of Answer by blader-ga on 07 May 2002 09:59 PDT

Dear lizardnation:

You're more than welcome! It was a pleasure to help. =) 

Best Regards,
blader-ga

The answer that followed the clarification was the icing on the cake. :-)

With the right modem init strings, most off the shelf modems since
1998 include caller ID support (this is of course, applicable to
hardware modems only, who knows about winmodems).
I know that a 33.6 I had lying around once could do it, and my current
USR 56k can do it.

I believe the init string is:
AT#CID=1

Here's more information:
http://www.troi.com/support/callerid.html

Search terms used:
"AT#CID"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=%22AT%23CID%22&btnG=Google+Search


And in comment to the above post, AFAIK FDDI is a fiber standard for
ethernet. I think they mean SONET. (I know it was copied and pasted,
but I feel like being pedantic today)

And as far as the different types of caller ID, there are very few.
The one you'll run across most often is the standard caller ID. This
works by basically running a modem at 1200 baud at the telephone
company, and using it to burst out a string between the first and
second rings, which your caller ID setup will detect and render as
useful data. (Sorry for the terse explaination, but the detailed one
would run several pages, if you'd like more information, see
http://www.howstuffworks.com/question409.htm, or feel free to contact
me.)

The second most common is part of the ISDN signalling protocol. This
is only seen on ISDN lines (BRI, or Basic Rate ISDN, is 2 voice lines
and a signalling line, which can be used for 2 voice lines, or two 64k
data lines, and PRI, or Primary Rate ISDN, is what is usually used
nowadays for delivering telephone service to medium sized companies.
It runs over a T1, and has 23 voice lines, and a signalling line.
Generally you see this in tandem with either long distance service, or
800 number service in businesses. That works by sending a data packet
to your answering device, generally a PBX (Public Branch Exchange),
containing the number dialed to reach you, and the number that is
calling.

Another type, while not necessarily different, is called ANI. This
stands for Automatic Number Identification, and is usually only on
toll free service lines (800 numbers), or 911 service. It identifies
the number that the call came in on (thus you can have several 800
numbers to the same phone line, and be able to tell which one was
dialed, this is useful if you have a call center that supports
multiple products) and the number that is calling you. The point of
interest here is that unlike standard caller ID, this cannot be
blocked by dialing *67 before the call. It is generally a positive
identification of the caller. (The logic is, that since you're paying
for the call, you have the right to know who is calling). Generally
this is delivered to you over one of the above methods (standard
caller ID, or ISDN signalling), but this varies by toll free provider.
Some even implement protocols like where you send a touch tone and the
switch sends touch tones back that contain the number that is calling,
but those are the exception rather than the rule.

Hopefully you have found this helpful.

Dear Noweb4u,

I've tried modems, more than one brand along with the USR's which are
3Com now, they support the FSK standard due to the fact that they
weren't able to pickup the CallerID information after using the AT
commands to activate CallerID.

Thank you.

/Lizardnation

Hello,

Our company makes a Caller ID ActiveX software component that works
with Windows Telephony API (TAPI).  This Caller ID ActiveX component
can easily be integrated with popular development tools like Visual
Basic, Delphi, Visual C++ and more.  It can even be used with
Microsoft Access, Excel, and other Office products.  As far as
hardware requirements, all you need is a voice modem or other Windows
TAPI compatible hardware device that delivers caller ID.

Even better, there is an unlimited free trial and the product costs
$99 to purchase with no redistribution costs (if you go that route).

Visit our site and try the free trial:
http://www.sunny-beach.net/calleridactivex.htm

The only downside is that we don't really offer tech support for this
product because it's so cheap.  Still, you will find once you find how
it works with a telephony device it's the easiest way to add caller ID
support to any Windows based software application.

All the best!

Mahesh Johari
http://www.sunny-beach.net

The original question was about DTMF type CID as used in some
scandinavian countries, The Netherlands and some countires in the
middle east.

This CID standard uses DTMF tones sent before the first ring to signal
the number of the calling party. Only numbers can be sent.

http://www.caller-id-answers.info/index.htm#fact5

As far is i know this standard is not supported by most modems.