What is CNAM and why use it?
CNAM (Caller ID Name) lets your chosen name appear on your recipient’s caller ID during outbound calls. This improves answer rates and builds trust by letting contacts recognize who’s calling.
Instead of showing “Unknown” or just your number, CNAM lets your call display a name like “Aloware Inc.” or “John from Sales.” It’s especially useful in outbound sales, customer support, and follow-ups—anywhere you want to be recognized and trusted.
More on CNAM and STIR/SHAKEN? Understanding CNAM and STIR/SHAKEN: How Aloware supports your business with both.
Step-by-step: Registering CNAM in Aloware
Only admins can register CNAM on a line.
To register a CNAM:
Log into your Aloware Admin dashboard.
Go to the Lines tab and find the line where you want to apply a CNAM.
Click the Settings button in the Operations column.
Navigate to the CNAM tab.
👉 Want to see it in action? Check out this interactive walkthrough.
Enter the name you want to display. Your CNAM:
Must begin with a letter.
Can include letters, numbers, commas, periods, and spaces.
Must not impersonate another brand.
Click submit to submit your CNAM for review.
Once submitted, your CNAM’s status will show in the same tab.
CNAM status descriptions
After submitting your CNAM, you may see one of the following statuses in your CNAM tab:
Unsubmitted – you haven’t completed the form yet.
Pending – your CNAM request is being processed. This can take up to 48 hours.
Approved – your CNAM has been accepted. No further action needed.
Failed – the request was rejected by the carrier. A reason will be provided, and you’ll need to revise and resubmit the request.
What to expect after submission
CNAM should begin with a letter and can only contain letters, numbers, periods, commas, and spaces.
Caller ID (CNAM) must be relevant to your business and business name; No impersonation allowed.
Caller ID (CNAM) can take up to 48 hours to appear.
Some carriers may not show this Caller ID.
Some mobile numbers may need to turn a setting on or subscribe to see Caller IDs.
No guarantee this Caller ID will work for Canada or Puerto Rico numbers.
FAQ
Why isn’t my CNAM showing up?
Propagation across carrier networks can take 30 days. Some devices and carriers don’t support CNAM unless the recipient opts in.Can I set up different CNAMs for multiple lines?
Yes. Just repeat the steps above for each line you want to customize.
Can I update my CNAM later?
Yes. You can modify and resubmit your CNAM in the same tab. Changes will go through another review process.