Automated verification of a telephone number

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform an automated method of verification of a telephone number, the method comprising:

• identifying a destination telephone number;
• selecting one of multiple origination telephone numbers;
• initiating a call to the destination telephone number assigned to a device from the selected origination telephone number, the called device configured to listen for incoming calls and receive signaling data before an incoming call rings at the called device;
• receiving, from the called device, a data communication comprising a telephone number extracted from the signaling data of the call before the call rings at the called device;
• comparing the telephone number of the data communication to the selected origination telephone number before the call rings at the called device;
• allowing access by a client software application on the called device to a service, when the telephone number of the data communication matches the selected origination telephone number;
• and
• canceling the call before the call rings at the called device when the telephone number of the data communication matches the selected origination telephone number.

An apparatus for automatically verifying a telephone number, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory;
• authentication logic executable by the processor of the apparatus to identify one of a pool of origination telephone numbers from which to place a call to a device having a first telephone number, the called device configured to listen for incoming calls and receive signaling data before the call rings at the called device;
• call logic executable by the processor of the apparatus to initiate the call to the called device from the identified origination telephone number, and cancel the call before the call rings at the called device;
• and
• data communication logic executable by the processor of the apparatus to receive a data communication from the called device before the call rings at the called device, compare a telephone number reported in the data communication to the identified origination telephone number, allow access by a client software application on the called device to a service, when the telephone number of the data communication matches the identified origination telephone number, and cause the call to be canceled before the call rings at the called device when the telephone number of the data communication matches the identified origination telephone number.

A system for verifying a telephone number, comprising:

• an application server hosting an application accessed by devices having associated telephone numbers;
• and
• a registration server for verifying a proffered telephone number of a first device, the first device configured to listen for incoming calls and receive signaling data before an incoming call rings at the first device, the registration server comprising:
• a call server for initiating a call to the proffered telephone number from a selected origination number, and canceling the call before the call rings at the proffered telephone number;
• and
• a communication module for receiving a data communication from the first device before the call rings at the proffered telephone number;
• wherein the data communication reports a telephone number from which a call was received at the first device;
• the registration server further to allow access by a client software application on the first device to the hosted application, when the telephone number of the data communication matches the identified origination telephone number, and to cause the call to be canceled before the call rings at the first device when the telephone number of the data communication matches the identified origination telephone number.