Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS)

DNIS Meaning

Dialed Number Identification Service (DNIS) is a service offered by PSTN carriers that passes the dialed digits to the destination PBX in advance of connecting the call. This tells the receiving PBX which number was called.

DNIS operates much like direct inward dial (DID) or direct inward dialing service, and when used with toll-free lines, it enables the PBX to determine which toll-free number was dialed and to route the call to the proper agent or agent group.

ANI vs. DNIS

Automatic Number identification (ANI) and DN both focus on phone number identification. However, ANI identifies the number associated with the caller, and DNIS shows the number that was dialed.

Terms related to DNIS

• Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)
• Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
• Toll-Free calling
• Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)

This post was last updated on Feb. 21, 2024.