How many email address fields should be on a Contact form?

We get questions like the following every couple of months:

Email addresses are used for more than sending emails. They are also used by social connector to bring together all information about a contact. Why are contact's limited to 3 contacts? There should be room for an unlimited number of email addresses per contact. Until this is rectified by Microsoft, how can I work around the problem?

You can easily work around the problem by putting the addresses you need for reference but don’t send mail to in the Notes field of the contact. This way they won’t display in the address book (and on smartphones) but are handy if you need the address. (Also use the notes field for phone numbers you want for reference but don’t expect to call unless there is an emergency, such as the cell phone numbers of your friend’s spouse or kids.)

The social connector doesn’t use contacts to pull social networking data. It uses your social network account, your friends list, and the privacy settings on your friends account in deciding what gets displayed in Outlook. For example, if your coworker wants you to see his Facebook feed, he needs to add his business addresses to his Facebook profile and then friend you or reduce his privacy settings. Adding more addresses to his contact won’t change what he allows you to see, it only adds more address to the Address book list.

What do you think? Should there be more email address fields on contacts? Vote here – and add your thoughts.
Vote: How many email address fields should be on Outlook Contact forms?

As always, this “highly scientific” poll does not require registration to vote. You will need to register if you want to add comments.

Published April 5, 2011. Last updated on October 23, 2020.