What is a VCID?
Consistent, recognizable caller identity is crucial for business outreach. A Verified Caller ID (VCID) lets your business present an existing phone number on outbound calls without first porting that number into Talkdesk. This makes VCIDs particularly useful during migrations, phased deployments, or transitional continuity scenarios.
VCIDs are intended as an interim solution rather than a long-term telephony strategy. As caller authentication standards and carrier verification requirements keep evolving, hosting your numbers in Talkdesk remains the most reliable long-term approach. Whether you are mid-migration or need a short-term solution for outbound campaigns, it helps to understand how VCIDs work, how they are verified, and what the regulations mean for you.
VCID numbers are for outbound caller ID presentation only and do not receive inbound calls in Talkdesk. Because Talkdesk does not host the underlying number, inbound calls to the VCID continue to route through the carrier or provider that hosts the number.
Upcoming changes to VCIDs
Regulators and carriers in several countries now require proof that the caller is entitled to use the number shown as caller ID. To keep your outbound calls connecting, VCIDs will need to be verified, and in some countries they can’t be used at all.
Caller ID rules are changing in some countries. From December 7, 2026, calls to France that use an unverified VCID, and calls to Brazil that use any VCID, won’t connect.
| Calls to | From December 7, 2026 | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| France | Calls that use an unverified VCID won’t connect. | Verify each VCID you use on calls to France, switch to a Talkdesk number or use a BYOC solution. |
| Brazil | Calls that use any VCID won’t connect, verified or not. Carriers in Brazil don’t accept spoofed numbers as caller ID. | Switch the caller ID for calls to Brazil to a Talkdesk number or use a BYOC solution |
| Other countries | No change yet. | Verify your VCIDs once self-service verification is available. |
These rules apply to all VCIDs, irrespective of the country of origin. For example, a US VCID used on calls to France is affected. Verification will become compulsory for all regions, and we’ll share timelines for other countries in advance.
How to enable a VCID: proof of ownership
To protect consumers, telecom providers enforce strict ownership checks to prevent unauthorized use of phone numbers. Talkdesk can enable a VCID only after receiving valid proof of ownership showing that the number belongs to your business. Acceptable forms of proof:
- A recent invoice or billing statement from your current carrier.
- A screenshot from your current carrier’s user interface (UI) portal.
- A Customer Service Record (CSR) provided by your telecom operator.
Your proof of ownership must clearly show both the requested phone number and your company’s legal name. Documents that don’t include both can’t be approved.
How to verify a French VCID
Verification proves you control the number. An automated call is placed to the VCID, and whoever answers enters a short code on the keypad. It takes a few minutes per number.
Before you verify
- The phone number representing the VCID must be working and able to receive calls.
- Someone must be available to answer the call on the phone number.
- If the number is behind an IVR or menu, let Support know: digits can be dialed once the call connects.
Until 4th December: verify with Talkdesk Support
- Open a ticket with Talkdesk Customer Care and list the VCIDs you want to verify.
- Schedule a short call with the Support engineer assigned to your ticket at a time that works for you.
- Verify each number on the call. The Support engineer starts the verification and gives you a code. An automated call is placed to the phone number representing the VCID; answer it and enter the code on the keypad.
From 4th December: verify in Admin > Numbers
A self-service verification flow is coming to Admin > Numbers. You’ll see the verification status of each VCID and can verify it yourself in a few minutes, without contacting Support.
Long-term considerations for VCIDs
Even when verified, a VCID may become less effective over time as regulators and carriers strengthen caller authentication and anti-spoofing protections. Organizations relying on VCIDs long term may see reduced caller trust, increased spam labeling, or call blocking, so treat VCIDs as an interim solution. Here is why they aren’t recommended long term:
- Limited troubleshooting: Talkdesk doesn’t troubleshoot failed calls originating from VCIDs. Because Talkdesk doesn’t host the underlying numbers, we don’t have the network-level visibility to investigate call delivery, spam labeling, or carrier filtering decisions. This usually requires the provider hosting the number.
- Evolving caller authentication: Regulators and carriers worldwide keep tightening anti-spoofing measures to combat fraudulent and spoofed calls, with growing emphasis on whether the originating provider is authorized to present the caller ID.
- Call deliverability: Outcomes depend on each carrier’s policies and analytics, but hosting your numbers in Talkdesk or using BYOC gives the strongest foundation for caller authentication and long-term deliverability.
Permanent solutions
For a reliable long-term setup, and for calls to Brazil, among other regions where VCIDs are not supported, use a number hosted in Talkdesk instead of a VCID.
1. Port the number to Talkdesk
Local Number Portability (LNP) transfers ownership and routing of your number to Talkdesk, so you keep the same number. Once it’s hosted with us, we can sign your calls with the highest level of attestation where applicable. Porting can take several weeks, so start early. See the porting guide.
When porting completes, any matching VCID in your account is permanently removed and replaced with the ported number. Settings linked to the VCID, such as Studio flows or queues, don’t carry over, so you’ll need to reconfigure them for the ported number.
2. Buy or use a Talkdesk number
Buy a number in Admin > Numbers > Buy number (see Purchasing Phone Numbers), or use one of your existing Talkdesk numbers as the caller ID. This is the required path for calls to Brazil.
3. Bring Your Own Carrier (BYOC)
If porting isn’t an option, for example because of a contract with your current carrier, BYOC lets you keep your carrier relationship while connecting your voice services to Talkdesk. It is a suitable long-term option when porting isn’t feasible. Contact your Account Team for details.
Choosing the right option
VCIDs work well as a short-term bridge during migrations and temporary deployments. For a sustainable foundation for caller authentication, operational support, and call deliverability, host your numbers in Talkdesk or implement BYOC.
If you have questions about VCIDs, verification, or porting, contact your Customer Success Manager or Talkdesk Customer Care.