Re: How does incoming caller ID work - and more specifically - can caller ID source data be controlled?

On Mon, 1 Jun 2020 19:00:00 +0700, JJ wrote:

> Telephone caller ID source data came from the telephone service (the
> telephone company's machine), not Android OS or the recipient's phone
> device. So, whether it can be controlled or not, depends on whether the
> telephone service provide a way to do that.

Hi JJ,

Thanks for taking a risk at helping answer the technical question, where
you and Gary accurately pointed out that the caller ID information comes
from a _variety_ of cascaded sources.
1. Carrier "Calling Number Identification" packet information
2. Default "Phone app" lookup into the system sqlite contacts database

My goal is to control the _final_ caller ID display, based on a contacts
database of my choosing, on the local device (since I do not have a default
sqlite contacts database, simply for privacy reasons alone).

Googling, there's yet another expansion level of caller ID cascading
o Apparently "caller ID" apps can _also play a role in this cascade.

Given there are _multiple_ cascaded levels to caller id display, the trick
now is to figure out how caller ID REALLY works since it's a cascade of at
least four possible events.
1. carrier CNI information
2. sqlite db contacts lookup
3. caller id app interception
4. personal privacy database lookup

Normally, to find the best free apps, I run a google search
o Where I try to ascertain the overlap of the best in various lists.

First hit is usually the overall survey of what's available:
o *8 Best Caller ID Apps for Android to Identify Incoming Numbers.*
  <https://mashtips.com/android-caller-id-app/>
1. Truecaller
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truecaller>
2. Whoscall
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gogolook.callgogolook2>
3. CallApp
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callapp.contacts>
4. Calls Blacklist
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vladlee.easyblacklist>
5. Should I Answer
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.mistergroup.muzutozvednout>
6. Mr. Number
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mrnumber.blocker>
7. Hiya
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascender.callerid>
8. CIA
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ciamedia.caller.id>
9. Showcaller
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.allinone.callerid>

Second hit is the first test of overlap agreement:
o *The Best Caller ID Apps for Android to Screen Your Calls*
  <https://joyofandroid.com/best-caller-id-apps-for-android/>
1. Caller ID - Spam Blocker, Phone Dialer & Contacts, by Sync.ME Caller ID
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=me.sync.callerid>
2. Hiya - Call Blocker, Fraud Detection & Caller ID, by Hiya 
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascender.callerid>
3. Truecaller: Caller ID, block fraud & scam calls, by True Software
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truecaller>

Third hit begins to confirm any overlap agreement:
o *5 Best Caller ID Apps For Android, Try It!*
1. Mr. Number - Caller ID & Spam Protection, by Hiya
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mrnumber.blocker>
2. CallApp: Caller ID, Call Blocker & Call Recorder, by CallApp Caller ID
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callapp.contacts> 
3. Showcaller: Caller ID, Call Recorder & Blocker, by Showcaller 
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.allinone.callerid>
4. Truecaller: Caller ID, block fraud & scam calls, by True Software 
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truecaller>
5. Hiya - Call Blocker, Fraud Detection & Caller ID, by Hiya
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascender.callerid>

Fourth hit seeks mainly to find new apps, if any:
o *10 Best FREE Caller Id Apps for Android Devices*
  <https://www.techykeeday.com/10-best-free-caller-id-apps-for-android-devices/>
#1. TrueCaller
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.truecaller>
#2. Number
#3. HD Full-Screen Caller ID
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.androminigsm.fscifree>
#4. Whoscall
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gogolook.callgogolook2>
#5. Hiya
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.webascender.callerid>
#6. CIA
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ciamedia.caller.id>
#7. TalkSide
  <https://talkside.en.aptoide.com/>
#8. Contactive
  <https://contactive.en.uptodown.com/android>
#9. Showcaller
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.allinone.callerid>
#10. CallApp
  <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.callapp.contacts>

Fifth hit starts to have declining relevance:
o *10 Best Caller ID Apps for Android in 2020*
  <https://alltipsfinder.com/best-caller-id-apps-android/>
1. Truecaller
2. CIA
3. Hiya
4. Caller ID by CallApp
5. Whoscall
6. Mr. Number
7. Talking Caller ID
8. Showcaller
9. Calls Blacklist
10. Full-Screen Caller ID

There were tons of similar hits, where, luckily, there does seem to be some
overlap, but unluckily, there were very few reviews from sites that I know
from past experience to be reputable freeware review sites.
o *10 Best FREE Caller Id Apps for Android Devices*
  <https://www.mobipicker.com/best-caller-id-app-for-android/>

o *Best 10 Caller ID Apps*
  <https://appgrooves.com/rank/communication/caller-id/best-caller-id-apps>

o *Top 10 Best Free Caller ID Apps For Android*
  <https://andytips.org/top-best-free-caller-id-apps-android/>
etc.

The trick now is to figure out how caller ID REALLY works since it's
apparently an intertwined cascade of at least four possible events.
1. Carrier information
2. sqlite db contacts lookup
3. caller id app interception
4. personal privacy database lookup
-- 
This thread is an offshoot of the sqlilte caller id problems outlined here:
o Does anyone know how the PHONE ties to CONTACTS tiies to SMS on Android 9
<https://groups.google.com/d/msg/comp.mobile.android/EvXtsP9radE/B1wg5WhfAQAJ>