Help with multiple contacts with multiple phone numbers

I'm fairly new to the iPhone so thanks in advance for any help with this issue.
I have contact list with records for a lot of people (300+), each with several phone numbers each, home, mobile & work, etc, .I can't seem to find a way to have the iPhone announce the name & number or name & type (home,mobile,work) of the caller from the contact list, my old cell phone could do that easily.
At the moment what I've been doing as a work around for a few (important) people is to create a custom ringtone for that caller & that phone number.  Since it also seems there's no way to attach a different ringtones to each number in a single contact record I've had to create multiple contact records for each person, each with a different name/number combination such as "John Doe Work", "John Doe Home" or John Doe Mobile" then assign to it the custom ringtone I created for that name/number. 
I need to this so that if I receive a call while I'm driving (or whatever) that I can't answer right then for some reason (often happens),  the ringtone I created for that name & number helpfully lets me know  who & where their calling from.  It's very important to know where someone is calling from, if someone's calling from home then I know I've got some time,  but if their calling from work then I need to get back to them quickly.
This is a real pain!, having to make multiple contacts & ringtones for a every person with multiple numbers is a extraordinary waste of time.  My old cell phone could do this with no problem but there doesn't seem to be any way to do this with my new iphone.  Am I missing something here?  I am new to the iPhone so if there’s a solution to this that I’ve missed I'd very much appreciate the assistance.
Thanks in advance.
Al

https://discussions.apple.com/message/18271382#18271382

Similar Messages

  • Multiple contacts with same phone number

    I have multiple contacts with the same phone number.  Skype will not permit the creation of a second contact with the same phone number.

    I have the same problem with my contacts.
    I have one external phone number and then use extensions for their desks. I want to embed the extension number in the contact name and use the common phone number. 
    Any ideas or solutions?
    Thanks

  • How do I share multiple contacts with another iPhone?

    How do I share multiple contacts with another iPhone? Thanks in advance.

    What do you mean share? 
    It is not possible to send contacts from one iPhone to another without installing an app that would support this.  Bump is one such app.
    There is no functionality in iOS to do this.  iCloud can share contacts across multiple iDevices, but it would be ALL contacts, just just a few.

  • My iMessage only works with one contact in my phone. I text several people that have the iphone 4s, theirs works with other people. But mine only works with one person. Why?

    My iMessage only works with one contact in my phone. I text several people that have the iphone 4s, theirs works with other people. But mine only works with one person. Why?

    about message http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3529
    troubleshooting message http://support.apple.com/kb/ts2755

  • Contact issue w/ phone numbers

    I have a user that is syncing her iPhone with her Enterprise Exchange account (Exchange Server 2010). For some reason some of her contacts are missing phone numbers. They show up in her Outlook 2010 just fine but not on her phone. She can manually input the numbers on the phone but this becomes a pain when she sync's several thousand contacts.
    Any ideas/help as to why this is happening would be great. Thanks.

    Hi,
    yes, I have a contact with several phone numbers (home, office, mobile...) .
    When I want to call him,
    I select the entry from the contacts list and
    press e.g. the green dialing button.
    Now I would expect that the 3 numbers of the contact will be displayed and I have to select one of them.
    But the phone starts dialing with the first number from the contact.
    I found a way to select the right number:
    Select the entry
    press "options"
    press "show details"
    select the right number
    press the green button
    But if this is the way to handle it, it is not very user friendly.
    Thanks for a reply.
    Roland

  • HT204150 Contacts only show phone numbers, no names?!

    My wife's iPhone 4S has suddenly lost its info. All contacts are just phone numbers, no photo stream etc., as if it's lost icloud back up , even it's never been backed up. I've rebooted it (off/on) and no difference.
    I've had this happened to my iPhone 5 last year, but not sure what I did and I back mine up every night over wifi.

    plug the phone back into itunes and sync the phone.

  • HT4906 When I synched my phone to the iCloud, I lost my contact list and phone numbers.

    When I synched my 3G phone to upgrade the operating system and to join i cloud, I lost my contact list and phone numbers
    How can I get the list and phone numbers back???
    allen8844

    If they aren't in your contacts on icloud.com when you check from your computer, you would have to restore them from a backup source.

  • How to email multiple contacts with mail in yosemite (holding down the shift key no longer works)?

    Does anyone know if it is possible to select multiple contact email addresses simultaneously from the contact list in Yosemite in a similar fashion to what we used to do (hold down the shift key)?  I have tried all the key combinations I can think of and none of them work. The "smart" address is a pain to use (to me at least) and I would have to make so many groups up to do what I use to do with just a few key strokes that I am really frustrated. Thanks for any help.

    Electron Mover,
    You can still open the stand alone Contacts App located in your applications folder and then drag and drop your contacts into the "To" field and it will add them. Also As you said.
    If you want to select multiple people in the Contacts App,  you can ( Command ) ( Click ) them and then drag and drop them into the "To" field.
    You can also place all the contacts into a group in the Contacts App. Then either drag and drop the group name from The Contacts App to the "To" field in Mail or you can start to type out the group name in the "To" field in Mail and from the pop down list select the group name and it will add all the contacts from that group.
    If you are willing I encourage you to send them feedback here: https://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html or https://www.apple.com/feedback/mail.html they won't respond but at least they will know your opinion.
    Hope that helps,
    Weston

  • Multiple contacts with same number?

    Hello,
    I have multiple contacts in my address book with the same number, for instance "Mom" or "Grandma" or "Mrs. Smith."  Is there a way to ensure that my iPhone 4 chooses the assigned photo and name to each contact? 
    I have all three under "All Contacts" but also have only one under a sub-group that is my primary contact group.  Perhaps my problem is syncing via MobileMe? Doing that means I have All Contacts as well as my sub-group on the iPhone; that may be confusing it?
    Thanks for any help!

    If you have multiple contacts have the same number the iPhone makes a random choice. There is no way to force one over another.

  • Adding multiple contacts with Skype manager

    This support page: https://support.skype.com/en/faq/FA10867/how-do-i-add-other-members-of-my-skype-manager-to-my-contac... indicates that there's an option on the left-hand side to select multiple contacts.  I'm not seeing this on the page described, I can only add contacts one by one.  Is this feature something I need to "turn on" somewhere in my settings?
    In addition, I've noticed in the past month or so, even by adding contacts one-by-one, only around the first 40 people receive the request to be added as a contact.  After that, no one receives invites.  This is very frustrating for adding all of our business's contacts at the same time.
    I've tried this in Mac 10.7.4 and 10.8.  I've also switched to a PC, but the same thing happens.  Does anyone have any insights?

    Just an update (2013 Nov 25). There is now an option to add multiple contact using csv file. Here is a simple direction: Create a csv file with 2 columns 1st column is the email address and the 2nd column is the name of the account. Then go to Members > Add members > create business accounts > then click on Browse..., choose the file you just created and it should be able to import the contacts.

  • IMessage not working with ONE contact after changing phone number

    Ok.. I changed my phone number Friday night. (same device) Once I restarted my phone and programmed it (*228) everything was working fine except one contact with iMessage. Since Friday night just one contact will only go through as SMS message. My other imessage users are all going back and forth as blue. This person I am having the problem with is also sending and receiving imessages with other contacts, just to me it is going through as text as well. Any help? I've shut iMessage off and on a bunch of times, turned the phone on and off... nothing seems to be working.. Any advice would be great!

    I have the same trouble with one of my contacts and I have been using my iPhone 4S and iPad (3rd generation) for a while. I hope we can get a solution.

  • HT4759 help I have deleted all my phone numbers and contacts from my I phone they are stored in the icloud but I do not know how to reload them into my phone

    I need help restoring my contact and phone number nformation backto my phone from the I cloud how do I do that

    Welcome to the Apple Community Mom Mom barb.
    if you are sure your contacts are still available at iCloud.com, then you've probably turned off contact syncing on the phone.
    Go to settings > iCloud and turn contacts on.

  • Why is my Z10 sending Text Messages to my Contact's Home phone numbers over their Mobile?

    I send Text Messages as Chats (sent to multiple recipients which I can then later send subsequent messages to) because as far as I know there isn't a way to setup a Distribution Group with the Z10.
    When I select Compose, and then select a Contact, it is selecting some Home phone numbers instead of their Mobile. WHY?
    Any help would be appreciated!

    mattwalma wrote:
    I send Text Messages as Chats (sent to multiple recipients which I can then later send subsequent messages to) because as far as I know there isn't a way to setup a Distribution Group with the Z10.
    When I select Compose, and then select a Contact, it is selecting some Home phone numbers instead of their Mobile. WHY?
    Any help would be appreciated!
    Groups can be created, new icon added with latest update.

  • I have lost all the information on my personal calendar on my phone as well as selected contact names and phone numbers. Can they be recovered?

    I seem to have lost all info on my personal calendar that I keyed in myself whether they were single appointments or recurring meetings or events. As well, I had added quite a few phone numbers with corresponding names that have mysteriously vanished.Iam in a panic as I can't seem to find them and do not know if they are lost forever.CAn anyone help?

    Icloud provides for backups AND for contacts and calendars being stored. You are not forced to do a icloud restoration to recover calendar and contacts from icloud.
    Please read this article about recovering contacts and calendars from icloud.
    Please understand this only works with the idea that you have initially used icloud for your contacts and calendar entry storage.
    http://support.apple.com/kb/TS4108
    good luck!

  • HT1296 I lost my sync with gmail contacts with Iphone on Itunes.  How I can do that again?

    I want to know how I can sync my Iphone contacts with my google contacts again?

    Hello Eltontsang,
    Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.
    It sounds like you Google contacts are no longer syncing to your phone.
    This article should help you get back up and running in that regard:
    iOS: Syncing with Google Contacts
    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4872
    Follow these steps if you're using iOS 7 to sync your contacts with Google Contacts:
    Tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account > Google.
    Enter the required information in the fields.
    Make sure Contacts is on.
    After you have completed the setup, open the Contacts app on your device. Syncing should begin automatically.
    Additional Information
    If you're using iOS 5 or iOS 6, follow these steps to set up contact syncing with Google Contacts:
    Tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars > Add Account... > Other > Add CardDAV Account.
    Enter the following information in the fields:
    Server: google.com
    User Name: your full Google email address
    Password: your Google account password
    Tap Next at the top of the screen to complete the setup.
    After you have completed the setup, open the Contacts app on your device. Syncing should begin automatically.
    Note: Make sure that SSL is enabled (under Advanced settings) and the port is 443.
    You may also visit the Google website to learn more about syncing with Google contacts.
    All the very best,
    Sterling

Maybe you are looking for