Contacts lists' windows show screen names that represent actual other people.[2] To communicate with someone on the list, the user can select a name and act upon it, for example open a new E-mail editing session, instant message, or telephone call. In some programs, if your contact list shows someone, their list will show yours. Contact lists for mobile operating systems are often shared among several mobile apps.Шаблон:Reference needed
Some text message clients allow you to change your display name at will while others only allow you to reformat your screen name (add/remove spaces and capitalize letters). Generally, it makes no difference other than how it's displayed.Шаблон:Reference needed
With most programs, the contact list can be minimized to keep it from getting in the way, and is accessed again by selecting its icon.Шаблон:Reference needed
The style of the contact list is different with the different programs, but all contact lists have similar capabilities.Шаблон:Reference needed
Such lists may be used to form social networks with more specific purposes. The list is not the network: to become a network, a list requires some additional information such as the status or category of the contact.Шаблон:Reference needed Given this, contact networks for various purposes can be generated from the list. Salespeople have long maintained contact networks using a variety of means of contact including phone logs and notebooks.Шаблон:Reference needed They do not confuse their list with their network, nor would they confuse a "sales contact" with a "friend" or person they had already worked with.Шаблон:Reference needed