Learn how you can use your external numbers in CloudTalk for outbound calling.
Virtual Outbound Caller ID
Caller identification (Call ID) identifies the business or individual who initiates a call.
Virtual Caller IDs insert a number that you own outside of the CloudTalk Platform as the caller ID, so the customer will see that number displayed when you call them.
You can create a Virtual Caller ID of your existing numbers if you want to use them for outbound calls in CloudTalk, without fully porting them in.
Note: for legal reasons, to begin using Virtual Caller ID functionalities, you can only use caller IDs of numbers you own.
CloudTalk will need to verify that you own this number externally with another provider.
Does my business need virtual caller id?
Virtual caller ID is an option for when you want to display a specific number on the Caller ID, that is not a one of your CloudTalk Numbers
It is not always possible to buy or port-in a number for every country your business will be calling, but virtual caller ID allows your contacts see your desired number when they get an incoming call from you.
Virtual IDs save money. You can have multiple Virtual Caller IDs allocated to different outbound destinations for no additional charge.
How will adding virtual caller ID on CloudTalk affect my current phone plan?
Adding a number as a virtual ID on your CloudTalk dashboard does not change anything related to that number with your original provider. Your number will stay on the original provider's platform, it will just also be displayed to your customers during outbound calls from CloudTalk as well.
Outbound calls from a Virtual Caller ID are charged either per minute or according to your calling package.
You keep the original service provider and can make outbound calls as normal.
Inbound and returned calls are directed to the original service provider, not to CloudTalk.
We can also set you up with an additional, local number in CloudTalk if you'd like to forward callbacks to us.
Which countries support Virtual Caller ID?
We can create a Virtual Caller ID and route outbound calls from it in most countries. However, all calls initiated in CloudTalk are still subject to local country rules and reachability limitations, and Virtual Caller IDs will not work in certain countries.
Here are scenarios in which Virtual Caller IDs will not work:
Countries without local call delivery
In countries where CloudTalk cannot deliver local calls (e.g. UAE, India, Saudi Arabia), the same limitations apply to Virtual Caller IDs.Countries with operator-restricted outbound calls
In some countries, outbound calls can only be delivered from numbers provided by specific local operators. Examples: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Vietnam.
Unsupported number types
Virtual Caller IDs cannot be used with number types that are not supported for outbound calling on national networks. Examples: Belgian National numbers (+32 78), Australia toll-free numbers, Poland toll-free numbers.
Countries where recipient operators block external traffic
In certain countries, recipient operators do not accept calls from numbers that originate on other networks.Czech Republic & Slovakia (mobile numbers)
Virtual Caller IDs of mobile numbers cannot make calls to numbers on the same network.Example: You cannot use a Virtual Caller ID of a T-Mobile number to call another T-Mobile number.
Similar restrictions apply for O2.
These measures were introduced in 2023 as anti-fraud protection against caller ID spoofing, and recipient operators’ firewalls will block such calls.
Croatia (A1 network)
Virtual Caller IDs cannot send calls to A1. Calls will be rejected by A1 firewalls.Poland (mobile numbers)
Virtual Caller IDs can only connect local calls within Poland on a best-effort basis. Polish operators may block calls if the traffic does not originate from the number’s official range holder.
Have more questions? Reach out to our Support team. We're always happy to help!