Cell Phone ANI

[Godot]

I found out that when I call some ANI numbers from my cell, it doesn't give my correct number. This includes all those famous MCI numbers. But several other numbers get my ANI just fine, and read back the correct number.

The wrong number I get is "not in service" when I try to call it. The area code of the number is the same as the area where I currently live, which is different from my cell phone's area code.

This seems potentially useful for fun and profit, if I can make sure my target is a number that gets the wrong ANI.

Is this some normal thing I just don't know about, or is this some fluke by Verizon?

[rbcp]

I just tried calling MCI's ANI from my AT&T wireless phone and it reads back my real number.  I wouldn't count on that fooling caller I.D. though.  Back when I had Ameritech Cellular, my number came up on a caller ID box but not with ANI.

[Godot]

I tried calling the MCI number while in D.C. the other day, an it gave me yet another number, this one with a Maryland area code. The last four digits were the same as the original wrong number, though.

[delysid]

I had that happen once when I had TDMA service with Cincinnati Bell. It was back in 2002 in SE Kentucky.