In telecommunications, CLIP stands for Calling Line Identification Presentation. It is a feature that allows the recipient of a call to see the phone number or name of the caller before answering the call. Fixed-line and mobile telephony systems are commonly using it.
When a call takes place, the caller’s number or name is transmitted to the recipient’s device, and if the recipient’s device is equipped with CLIP, it will display this information on the screen before the recipient answers the call. The caller’s number or name may also be logged in the recipient’s call log or history.
CLIP is a standard feature in many telecommunications systems and many service plans use it by default. It provides a useful tool for screening calls and helps to identify unwanted or unsolicited calls, as well as allowing the recipient to see who is calling before answering.
History of TELECOM CLIP
The history of CLIP dates back to the 1960s with the Bell System. This was the primary telephone service provider in the United States, began experimenting with caller identification technology.
In 1968, Bell Labs, the research and development arm of the Bell System, filed a patent for a “calling party identification system”. It used a combination of tones and flashing lights to alert the called party to the identity of the caller. However, the implementation of this system didn’t apply a large scale.
In the 1980s, with the introduction of digital switching technology, caller identification technology became more viable. In 1984, Bellcore, a research and development company owned by the Regional Bell Operating Companies (RBOCs), developed the first caller identification system. It used the Automatic Number Identification (ANI) protocol to transmit the calling party’s phone number to the called party’s phone.
Initially, caller identification was only available to large businesses and government agencies. It wasn’t until the mid-1990s that caller identification became available to the general public. In 1995, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 mandated that all telephone companies provide caller identification services to their customers.
As the use of caller identification grew, so did the demand for additional features. One of the most popular features was CLIP, which allowed the recipient of a call to see the caller’s phone number before answering the call. CLIP was first introduced in the United Kingdom in the early 1990s and quickly became popular in other countries.
Today, CLIP is a standard feature on most telephones and millions of people is using it around the world. It has become an essential tool for screening unwanted calls and protecting privacy.