Two unique messages can be delivered as designated by Caller ID specifications. An "Out-of-Area" message occurs if the information on a caller is unavailable. This is true for most cellular calls and is sometimes the case when the call originates outside the telephone company's Local Access Transmission Area (LATA). This loosely translates to long distance calls. In the near future, Caller ID will be delivered on a long distance basis. Inter-LATA and interstate Caller ID delivery is scheduled to begin in all areas by June, 1996.

A "Private" message is sent for callers who have blocked their Caller ID number from being transmitted to the called party. Blocking can occur either on a per call or on a per line basis. For per call Caller ID blocking, a code (*67) can be dialed before each call is made. In some areas, customers can request that all calls from their line be permanently blocked. In either case, the recipient of calls from these numbers will receive a "Private" or "Anonymous" indication from their Caller ID device.

Private and Out-of-Area messages can occur in either the number or name fields if number and name service is being delivered. For example, some telephone companies allow customers to have private numbers, but names are always sent. In another case, the number might be sent, but the name of the customer is Out-of-Area. This would most likely happen if the customer had just received new service and the telephone company's database had not been recently updated. Be aware that your application software might need to handle various combinations of number, name, private, and out-of-area messages in both the number and name fields.