Methods and apparatus to provide a network-based caller identification service in a voice over internet protocol network

An apparatus comprising:

• a memory comprising machine readable instructions;
• and
• a processor to execute the instructions to provide a network-based caller identification service by:
• modifying a communication session initiation request message to add an early-media indicator in response to receiving the communication session initiation request message from a calling party;
• sending the modified communication session initiation request message to a called party;
• and
• when the called party responds with a session descriptor for a real-time protocol communication session, directing a messaging server to provide caller identification data associated with the calling party to the called party via the real-time protocol communication session.

A tangible machine readable storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed, cause a machine to perform a method comprising:

• modifying a communication session initiation request message to add an early-media indicator in response to receiving a communication session initiation request message from a calling party;
• sending the modified communication session initiation request message to a called party;
• and
• when the called party responds with a session descriptor for a real-time protocol communication session, directing a messaging server to provide caller identification data associated with the calling party to the called party via the real-time protocol communication session.