CNAM Configuration Example for Incoming Calls in FreeSWITCH Dialplans

CNAM allows you to see not only what number the call is coming from but a label of who is calling. This will be very useful as if you see a number 1 613 800 7370, that might mean nothing to you, a name like LUIS D will ring a bell who is calling. There are many CNAM databases, some are public and free, some are paid.

FreeSWITCH offers mod_cidlookup to deal with that. You will need to edit the configuration file to put some information that will allow the information pulling, but that is not enough. After that, you will need to do a dial plan configuration. I will talk in this article, about that dial plan.

The first thing you need to know is that this dial plan needs to be processed only when an incoming call comes, and it needs to be the first one (or at least before the transfer). Here it is my configuration. Change it according to your needs.

<extension name="cnam" continue="true">
<condition field="context" expression="public">
<action application="set" data="caller_id_name=${cidlookup(${caller_id_number})}" inline="true"/>
<action application="set" data="effective_caller_id_name=${caller_id_name}" inline="true"/>
</condition>
</extension>

This dial plan must be run in the public context.

Do you Need a CNAM Database?

I have set up the SuperCNAM service. The price is around 16.99 USD quarterly (every 3 months). The good thing on this is that it is unmetered, it won't bill you by the query, just a flat fee.

Good Luck!