Best practices for phone number and email formatting
This document describes best practices for formatting phone numbers and email addresses for the SecureAuth IdP. As a directory administrator, follow this information when setting up the directory. End users should use this information when entering their information on Help Desk and Self-Service Account pages.
Applies to
Any SecureAuth IdP release
Windows Server up to the latest version
Discussion
Review the following best practices.
- International phone numbers
When formatting international phone numbers, SecureAuth IdP requires the string to begin with the country code followed by a space. The country code format begins with a plus (+) symbol followed by the country code.
For example, for the United States, you would enter a phone number as +1 202 555 1234.
The rest of the numbers in the dial string can use any combination of the following separators: 'space', 'dash' or 'period'.
Or, you can eliminate the use of separators from the numeric string. For example, +1 2025551234.
- National phone numbers
A national phone number can use any combination of the following separators: 'space', 'dash' or 'period'.
Or, you can eliminate the use of separators from the numeric string. For example, 2025551234.
- Email addresses
An email address should follow the format local-part@domain in which:
the local-part may be up to 64-characters in length
the domain name may have a maximum of 255 characters as defined in RFC 5322 (sections 3.2.3 and 3.4.1)
Recommendations
See the following recommendations.
- Recommended phone number and email address formats
The recommendation is to format phone numbers and email addresses per the specification in International Telecommunication Union E.123: Notation for National and International Telephone numbers, e-mail addresses and web addresses.
This internationally accepted standard will help ensure interoperability with telephone and email systems worldwide.
Here are examples of an international number, national number, and email address in the E.123 format:
International: +54 9 506 5682
National: (202) 555 1234
Email: jdoe@acme.com
- ITU E.164 support
SecureAuth IdP supports the ITU E.164 Format for international phone numbers.