---
title: "Managing Records with Multiple Email Addresses and Telephone Numbers"
slug: "multiple-email-address-and-telephone-number-support"
updated: 2026-03-26T21:28:49Z
published: 2026-03-26T21:28:49Z
canonical: "knowledge.technolutions.net/multiple-email-address-and-telephone-number-support"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Managing Records with Multiple Email Addresses and Telephone Numbers

A record can have multiple email addresses and phone numbers. These contact methods are stored on the `[device]` table and are flattened and synced with other tables, such as the `[person]` table, through real-time updates. We outline several key points and scenarios in this article.

## Device table key columns

- **Record:** The person ID (or another record ID)
- **Type:** Email, phone, mobile, and business (these types are customizable)
- **Value:** The email address or telephone number
- **Priority:**
  - `1` (high)
  - `0` (normal)
  - `-1` (low)
  - `-2` (inactive)
- **Rank:** The highest-priority, most-recently updated device for a record+type

## Importing emails and phone numbers

When setting the `[email]`, `[phone]`, `[mobile]`, or `[business]` columns on the `[person]` table, as can happen through an online application, an [Upload Dataset](/v1/docs/upload-dataset-stages) import, or a form, we will push that contact address into the `[device]` table, if it does not already exist, with a normal priority.

- If the device already exists and a change is made to the device type or device value, we will set its Device Updated Date to the current date/time to push it to the top. If no change is made to the type or value for the device, the Device Updated Date will not change.
- If the device already exists for the former value on the `[person]` table and the value is set to `NULL` on the `[person]` table, we will set the device to inactive. (Including a `NULL` value in an Upload Dataset import will not be affected by this, as `NULL` values are automatically excluded from imports.)
- If the device already exists for the former value on the `[person]` table and the new value is different, we will add a new device and will retain the former device.

## Managing devices administratively

Devices appear on the Profile tab → Contact/Address. You can delete, modify, and insert any number of additional devices.

When there are changes to the devices table, the ranks are recalculated and the `[person]` table is updated to match. This ensures that all existing data feeds, filters, and exports continue to function as originally designed.

## Multiple devices through merges

When two records are [merged](/v1/docs/consolidate-records-and-the-effects-of-main-vs-duplicate), their devices list are merged following the same protocols as mailing addresses, where the high-priority, recently-updated addresses take precedence over normal or low-priority addresses.

## Using multiple devices

The Messages section on the Interactions tab looks at the messages associated with all active and inactive email addresses, providing a comprehensive history of the email communications to that recipient.