Learn how you can use your external numbers in CloudTalk for outbound calling.
Virtual Outbound Caller ID
What is a virtual 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.
If you do not already own a number from your desired country, you can always buy new numbers from CloudTalk. For further guidance on buying new numbers, please refer to the following article.
Does my business need virtual caller id?
Virtual caller ID is an option for when you want to display a specific number from a particular region or country, which matches the location of your client.
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 a familiar number prefix 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.
Can a virtual caller ID bypass International calling limitations?
All calls initiated in CloudTalk will still be subject to local country rules and reachability limitations, and backend call data will still be registered by the respective country's CLI (Calling Line Identification), including any associated restrictions.
Here are scenarios in which Virtual Caller IDs will not work:
In countries where CloudTalk cannot deliver local calls (ex. UAE, India), the limitations will be the same with Virtual Caller IDs using those countries' numbers.
In countries where CloudTalk can only deliver local outbound calls from numbers specifically from our operators - examples include China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, Vietnam
on number types that are not supported for outbound calling on their national networks - examples Belgian National numbers (+32 78), Australia toll-free numbers, Poland toll-free numbers.
In countries where recipient operators will not accept calls from their numbers that originate on other networks
Czech and Slovak Virtual Caller IDs of mobile numbers cannot make calls to numbers of the same network.
ex. You cannot use a Virtual Caller ID of a T-Mobile number to make an outbound call another T-mobile number. Similar limitations have been introduced by O2.
This is an anti-fraud measure established in Czech Republic and Slovakia in 2023 against caller ID spoofing. Firewalls with the recipient operators will block the calls.
Have more questions? Reach out to our Support team. We're always happy to help!