Custom Local Area Signaling Services (CLASS) are
PSTN telephony intelligent network services beyond basic voice calling, such as
caller ID (
automatic number identification (ANI)), caller number blocking, automated call return, call blocking or screening. Different
IXCs offer various services.The services rely on the
ITU-T standard
Signalling System 7 (SS7) connectivity between network switches (SSPs) and databases (800 Database, LNPDB, LIDB, etc.) to operate. The CLASS standards were defined by
Bellcore in the 1970s.Other services such as call forwarding, three-way calling, call waiting, or speed dialing are part of custom calling rather than CLASS.
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