How to Remove SIM from a Private Number (No Longer Have Calls Seen as “Private Caller”)

Imagine this, it’s a regular weekday and you’re in the middle of work, you hear your phone ring, glance down, and see “Private Number” calling you- first instinct would be to immediately dismiss the call as:

1. You can’t actually see who's calling you and as the old saying goes “stranger danger!” applies even when it’s a phone call.
2. You don’t want to deal with a potential spam call or worse- someone you don’t want calling you is calling you.

But in reality it’s not a stranger or a potentially annoying spam call, it’s your friend and for some reason their caller ID and name isn’t displaying on your phone. Or reverse this and you try calling your friend and they don’t pick up, you meet them the next day and you ask if they got your call but they said the only call they got was from a “Private Number” which you begin to realize that you’re the aforementioned private caller.

Now here’s another scenario thrown at you, imagine you own a business or you’re starting to build connections for the possibility of starting a new business endeavor but no matter what time you call, morning, afternoon, or evening, your call never gets answered. That can be seriously frustrating especially when it’s for something as important as your work. Then you come to realize just like in the scenario above that your calls are coming in displaying as “Private Number.” So what gives? Why is this happening and what can you do to change it so your name and number displays when you’re calling a loved one or a possible business associate? 

Today we’re going to give you the why, how, and guide on how to remove SIM from a private number- (aka how to no longer have your calls show up as “Private Number” via your phone and/or SIM card). 

• What is a SIM Card and why do we need it?
• What is Caller ID and Caller ID name?
• The Advantages and Disadvantages of caller ID and caller ID name
• How to no longer display as “Private Number” when you make a call (how to remove SIM from a private number)

• REALLY: The World’s First Fully Encrypted & Private Phone Service

What is a SIM Card and why do we need it?

When you’re switching over to a new wireless network, if you don’t buy a new phone directly through them they will instead send you a SIM Card Kit which has a new SIM Card inside ready for you to insert it into your current device. But what exactly is a SIM Card? 

SIM stands for Subscriber Identity Module, this tiny micro card is the technology that allows users to make and receive calls and texts, connect to your wireless network’s cell towers which gives you access to data, and can even carry a previous phone’s information like contacts, apps, and notes. The SIM Card is what makes your Smartphone be well, a phone! At least for GSM phones.

What’s GSM?

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile communication, it’s the most commonly used system all throughout the world including the United States however we use both GSM and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). GSM capable phones can sign up for any wireless network- (that’s most phones today, you’ll only come across a few “CDMA Network(s) Only” phones if you buy them directly through said CDMA Network). 

GSM vs CDMA

“GSM” and “CDMA” are two slightly outdated terms and technologies describing wireless networks. For instance when describing our “big three” wireless companies, Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile they fall under the GSM and CDMA families respectively. 

• GSMA is a network that uses AT&T to provide coverage.
• GSMT is a network that uses T-Mobile to provide coverage.
• CDMA is a network that uses Verizon to provide coverage.
  

(The A and T are added to differentiate between AT&T and T-Mobile). 

Then for other wireless companies, companies like Mint Mobile, Boost Mobile, etc. they are all MVNOs and they too fall under GSM and CDMA. MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) are wireless companies that don’t have their own cell towers, they instead will piggyback their signal off of a major wireless network’s towers (aka Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile) to provide coverage for their subscribers. MVNOs will essentially buy data in bulk from major wireless networks and will then sell it to people at discounted rates. It’s great for those looking for more “budget friendly” phone plans instead of paying the big bucks for a Verizon, AT&T, and/or T-Mobile plan. The reason you are getting discounted rates from these MVNOs is because you’ll sometimes experience data deprioritization which is the temporary slowing of data speeds due to a number of factors, the main reason for MVNOs being is that the wireless network they are piggybacking the signal off of is prioritizing their direct customers over those who are signed up through a MVNO. 

GSM phones utilize SIM cards, but CDMA phones do not and they are tied to the carrier directly. 

Back to why we need it-

The tiny piece of plastic that’s about the size of your finger tip contains a lot of phone’s capabilities and it also holds your phone’s phone number along with a serial number identifying said information. 

What is Caller ID and Caller ID name?

When you call someone, or when someone calls you, two things normally show up. One, your phone number will be on display, and two your name will be on display. That is thanks to caller ID (CLID) and caller ID name (CNAM). Caller ID and caller ID name are the two systems used to help identify incoming callers. Caller ID provides the number and caller ID name provides the name. 

• Good to Note: Caller ID name isn’t always accurate, sometimes you’ll get a call and the name won’t be all the way correct and that’s because the system isn’t perfect as the database(s) aren’t centralized. It’s an outside telecom service that phone companies will use in order to pair the number with the name. If you want to make sure your name is going through correctly whether it be your first and last name or the name of your business then best bet would be to contact your carrier. Carriers will choose between a variety of CNAMs and they can get your name set up. You can choose up to 15 ASCII characters for your caller ID name.

Caller ID, in the United States and Canada at least, works by sending the “caller ID” information to the called party, aka the recipient of the call by the “telephone switch as an analog data stream” (think of when a computer sends a message between another computer, or better when data is transferred between two modems). 

With caller ID and caller ID name you’re able to determine if you want to answer the call or let it ring. They are powerful tools, especially when you have a business and want to start brokering connections between potential clients. CLID and CNAM isn’t just limited to one kind of phone either, landlines, VoIP, and cell phones all offer caller ID services.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of caller ID and caller ID name

Now that we know what caller ID and caller ID name is and a little bit of how it works, it’s time to talk about the advantages and disadvantages, the pros and cons if you will about having it vs not having it.

Advantages of caller ID and caller ID name

• You’re able to recognize the incoming call, giving you the decision to answer it or not. If you see it’s a name and number you know then you’ll be way more likely to answer it rather than seeing “Private Number,” “Private Caller,” or “Unknown Number.”
• You can build connections. As a business owner or freelancer, with your own caller ID and caller ID name displayed each time you call a person or place of business- you don’t want your own number showing as “Private Number,” “Private Caller,” or “Unknown Number,” that could lead to the potential loss of clients and partnerships.
• Your friends and family members will be able to recognize it’s you and they will also be more likely to pick up and answer.
• You can ignore calls from people you don’t want to hear from. As lovely as it is to get a call from someone you love, getting a call from someone you’d rather not is something you can avoid when you glance down and see their name and number thanks to caller ID and caller ID name. It gives you more of a choice and less of an unknown variable. 

The Disadvantages of caller ID and caller ID name

It’s not always safe. The advancement of technology nowadays brings the potential of spoofed and spam calls and even when you see a number with an area code you recognize- it could be a potential robocall, scammer, or spam. With your caller ID and caller ID name displayed you could be left open for a few potential risks:

• Targeted Calls & Texts: You know those messages you get,

-”Your package is stuck at our facility. Log in to confirm your address.”

-”Your information has been leaked. Please confirm your social security number and other personal information so we can get things right for you.”

Or something else similar to that effect. Those calls and texts that almost look right but something is pulling at you that it isn’t. Scammers and phishers will be able to try and “get you” and what we mean by that is they will want you to pick up your phone, answer that text and click the link, leading to even more personal information into the wrong hands or by accidentally downloading malware/spyware onto your device.

• Stealing your Identity: You can get a lot of info with just a phone number and a name (aka the CLID and CNAM), and scammers/hackers will try to find out more information on you along with trying to get into your accounts because nowadays it’s common to use your phone as a part of “Two Factor Authentication” which is a website or app asking you for two or more pieces of “evidence” making sure it’s really you so you’re allowed into your account.
• Spoofed Calls: With a phone number, hackers can “spoof” your number and call from their line showing up to the recipient as your number calling. Which can lead to confusion and even more scams targeting others.

Again, these are just possibilities but it’s good to know the pros and cons of an important set of systems like caller ID and caller ID name. 

How to no longer display as “Private Number” when you make a call (how to remove SIM from a private number)

There are a few different methods to go about making sure your caller ID and caller ID name shows when you call someone. For some it might be as simple as going into your settings and changing some things around and for others you might have to make a call to your phone carrier but hopefully we can solve it here with a few easy steps.

We will give tutorials for both Android and iPhone users, starting first with Android:

For Android Users:

1. Go to your ‘Contacts’ and click on it
2. Then click on ‘Settings’
3. Find ‘SIM Card Settings’ and then click on it
4. More than likely two options will show up, click on the one that says “Carrier Features”
5. Select the SIM card is having the issue/is the one you want to make sure is showing up as your caller ID and caller ID name
6. Then click on ‘Additional Settings’
7. Click on ‘Caller ID’ and a little pop up will appear with the toggled on option of ‘Hide Number’ - change that to either ‘Network Default’ or ‘Show Number’

If these steps are too long and/or you’re having trouble try dialing #31# on your keypad for the SIM that is having the issue!

• Good to Note: Not all Android phones are the same, some may have slightly different settings and names depending on the version of update or what type of phone you have.

For Apple/IOS Users:

1. Go to your ‘Settings’ and click on it
2. Then scroll down till you see ‘Phone’ - click on it
3. Find ‘Show My Caller ID’ and you’ll see if it’s toggled on or off, if it’s off toggle it back on

And there you have it! Those are some pretty simple steps to make sure your calls go through showing yourself rather than as “Private Number” or something to that effect. If you notice any more issues we’d recommend calling your phone carrier as they will be able to help troubleshoot problems regarding this setting. 

REALLY: The World’s First Fully Encrypted & Private Phone Service

Safe searching is important and being able to do so while still having access over your caller ID and caller ID name is what REALLY is trying to make possible. REALLY is the world’s first phone service that’s fully encrypted and is completely private. There’s no spying, no tracking, and no hacking. REALLY will never sell your data because they don’t have access to it! It’s a phone service for those who are concerned about their data privacy and you can join the waitlist here.

Along with that they make it easy for you to compare and contrast any wireless carrier to over 1,200 other phone plans so you know you’re getting the service that’s right for you, then make sure to check out the REALLY compare page which allows you to look at pricing, coverage, what phone plans are available, current deals and steals, and how you can make the most of your potential phone bill.

The guide on how to remove SIM from a private number has arrived and the hope now is that you no longer have any missed calls from friends, family members, and hopefully business prospects.