Caller Line Identity - where is it ?

[altis]

For some Caller ID FAQs try here:
http://www.ainslie.org.uk/callerid/cli_faq.htm

Although I moved back to BT mainly because they offered Caller ID, I'm afraid I wouldn't encourage NTL to invest heavily in the equipment to provide it. This is because the rest of the world is swiftly moving towards VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - and with good reason. To provide broadband needs only a couple of racks of equipment but the equivalent telecoms switch requires a whole room full. I predict we'll see STBs with a phone socket on the back before too long - complete with CallerID and every other gizmo.

[Kevin]

Not on NTL you wont!

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by altis

For some Caller ID FAQs try here:
http://www.ainslie.org.uk/callerid/cli_faq.htm

Although I moved back to BT mainly because they offered Caller ID, I'm afraid I wouldn't encourage NTL to invest heavily in the equipment to provide it. This is because the rest of the world is swiftly moving towards VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) - and with good reason. To provide broadband needs only a couple of racks of equipment but the equivalent telecoms switch requires a whole room full. I predict we'll see STBs with a phone socket on the back before too long - complete with CallerID and every other gizmo.

BT are trialling VoIP in Cambridge soon - it will be interesting to see if/how NTL respond.

[JohnM]

Originally Posted by mmm

It was reported on these boards that most equipment in the celtic region was capable but because it wasn't 100% it was not switched on at all.

Celtic (and ex-CableTel) regions have ALWAYS had WORKING caller ID. When ntl came along and everything was merged (well... sort of merged), in order to "maintain the same product range accross the country", they were told not to actively sell caller ID. They chose this option rather than upgrading their other franchises to support caller ID.

CWC scuppered this when ntl took them over, since they were already (for the most part) caller-id-capable... So the view gradually changed from.. "we're not selling it" to, "we're selling it in some regions"..

Maybe it was a cash thing too... an extra £ is an extra £...

NB: In glasgow anyway, caller ID has always been available with a business line.. That never got withdrawn.. presumably because business have an ounce of sense.

[RamJet]

"Perhaps they are right - the take-up of Caller display doesn't justify the investment" [quote]

Ha Ha Ha ! - the take up is ZERO (NIL)(ZER0)(NOTHING) here in the whole of Brighton/Worthing Area Because THEY DON'T HAVE IT ENABLED ! ! !

I was quite happy to pay for the service - the phones I've got will do LAND -LINE SMS texts IF the CLI is activated - so NTL would get a montly fee + the connection charge for each TEXT

Whatz happened to them at NTL HQ have they lost all sense of Busness Direction ? ? ?

I'm getting fed up with this - what's the number to get a BT line with some proper inovations and Basic Services ? ? ?

Ram Jet

[Neil]

Originally Posted by RamJet

I'm getting fed up with this - what's the number to get a BT line with some proper inovations and Basic Services ? ? ?

Ram Jet

0808 100 5152.

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by RamJet

I was quite happy to pay for the service - the phones I've got will do LAND -LINE SMS texts IF the CLI is activated - so NTL would get a montly fee + the connection charge for each TEXT

Appart from the fact that NTL do not support SMS to/from landlines ANYWHERE on their network, only BT offer that service.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by JohnM

Celtic (and ex-CableTel) regions have ALWAYS had WORKING caller ID. When ntl came along and everything was merged (well... sort of merged), in order to "maintain the same product range accross the country", they were told not to actively sell caller ID. They chose this option rather than upgrading their other franchises to support caller ID.

CWC scuppered this when ntl took them over, since they were already (for the most part) caller-id-capable... So the view gradually changed from.. "we're not selling it" to, "we're selling it in some regions"..

Maybe it was a cash thing too... an extra £ is an extra £...

NB: In glasgow anyway, caller ID has always been available with a business line.. That never got withdrawn.. presumably because business have an ounce of sense.

Funny how, when I phoned up CWC to enquire about the possibility of CLID in Bromley, I was told it would never be available.

[Marge]

We've been told the view is that there isn't enough demand for it

[Stuart]

I am sure that somewhere along the line, NTL have looked into it and decided the extra revenue generated wouldn't cover the costs of installation.

After all, upgrading an exchange that supports thousands of users is not something to be done lightly. It takes planning, testing etc. That costs money. That's totally ignoring the cost of the hardware (in somecases) and software needed for the exchange, together with the cost of engineers to install it.

It would cost NTL £millio ns to upgrade for Caller ID. Would they get that money back? I doubt it.

BTW Debsy, that's not aimed at you. Its not aimed at anyone in particular.

[SMHarman]

... and really most people only think about it if they upgrade their cordless phone and realise the new one has CLI. I don't know anyone with CLI boxes and I am the only person I know with CLI which I got from BT when I replaced my cordless with a pair of BT Diverse 4010s with built in CLI to the screens.

[Stuart]

I suspect the that only reason BT can offer Caller ID nationwide is that back in the late 80s, they were still converting to digital exchanges, so were having to spend £millio ns upgrading anyway. It wouldn't have cost them a lot more (relatively) to add facilities for Caller ID.

Of course, the original cable companies who now form NTL could have included Caller ID too (and some did).

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by scastle

I suspect the that only reason BT can offer Caller ID nationwide is that back in the late 80s, they were still converting to digital exchanges, so were having to spend £millio ns upgrading anyway. It wouldn't have cost them a lot more (relatively) to add facilities for Caller ID.

I expect it also had something to do with contractural obligations to provide everybody in the UK with the same service, regardless of where they lived.

Originally Posted by scastle

Of course, the original cable companies who now form NTL could have included Caller ID too (and some did).

When Cambridge Cable set up their service there was a lot of competition, not only from BT but also from Ionica. Part of Cambridge Cable's original offer was providing the customer with line rental, the equivalent of all the BT Star Services (Caller ID, Voicemail, etc.) and TV for the same price as BT's standard line rental.

[RamJet]

Originally Posted by bob_builder

Appart from the fact that NTL do not support SMS to/from landlines ANYWHERE on their network, only BT offer that service.

If so then the position is worse that I thought - I booked a phone service with Nynex 10 years ago on the basis that the cable companys were innovative and would offer MORE services ! !

What you and others are saying is :-

1. NTL care nothing for Innovation and supplying additional services

2. NTL regard us - the poor customers - a mere revenue items - and our needs and their duty to consider those needs are well down the line in terms of what they do - what happened to Social Responsability ? ?

3. NTL care nothing for customers definite NEED to see who is ringing them up before answering calls - I for one am completely fed up with random calls from double galzing companys and WANT to screen my calls - just like on my mobile where I only answer known callers

I SUSPECT that the real reason why there is no CLI is that NTL in some way have been 'got at' by other big businesses who do NOT want us consumers to be able to screen / block calls from cold calling Sales companys

Ram Jet

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by RamJet

If so then the position is worse that I thought - I booked a phone service with Nynex 10 years ago on the basis that the cable companys were innovative and would offer MORE services ! !

What you and others are saying is :-

1. NTL care nothing for Innovation and supplying additional services

2. NTL regard us - the poor customers - a mere revenue items - and our needs and their duty to consider those needs are well down the line in terms of what they do - what happened to Social Responsability ? ?

They are a business. When all is said and done, their aim is to make money, Prove to them that doing something will make them money, and they will do it.

3. NTL care nothing for customers definite NEED to see who is ringing them up before answering calls - I for one am completely fed up with random calls from double galzing companys and WANT to screen my calls - just like on my mobile where I only answer known callers

One thing: Even with CLI, you are not protected against cold callers. Their number is often withheld. How are you going to block them? Not answer callers with withheld numbers? If you do, bear in mind that somebody with a legit reason to contact you may be unable to get through because their number is withheld (for instance, some hospital switchboards automatically withhold the number).

For your particular problem, have you tried the Telephone Preference Service (http://www.tpsonline.org.uk/tps/)? I used to get at least 2 or 3 calls everyday on both my BT and NTL lines selling stuff, since I registered with them, I have got maybe one or two a month.

I SUSPECT that the real reason why there is no CLI is that NTL in some way have been 'got at' by other big businesses who do NOT want us consumers to be able to screen / block calls from cold calling Sales companys

Ram Jet

Erm, assuming there is a big conspiracy between NTL and "big business", surely, "big business" would be more interested in getting at BT (who still supply the bulk of home telephone lines in this country)?