Android is, without a incertitude, the most flexible mobile platform on the planet. This flexibility extends to about every attribute of the platform. Such is the case with contacts. Not only do y'all have numerous ways in which you can edit, save, and manage your contacts… there are equally every bit many dissimilar means in which yous tin access your contacts.

One of the most handy means of getting to a contact is past calculation it to your home screen. I'thou not talking about the standard direct dial or direct message shortcut (though they are incredibly helpful to have around) — I'one thousand talking adding full-on contact entries to your home screen. With these widgets, you gain access to quick calls, messages, and Google+ profiles, plus you're able to hands edit the contact information.

Note: This handy feature isn't available on all Android phones. Both the Verizon-branded Motorola Moto 10 and Samsung Galaxy S4 offer the feature, whereas the HTC M8 does not. Y'all'll know very quickly if your device offers the characteristic (I'll show y'all in a moment).

To add together the contact widget, follow these steps:

  1. Open up the People (or Contacts) app
  2. Search for the contact you want to add, and tap to open up
  3. Tap the menu button *
  4. Tap the entry for Add together shortcut to home

* The menu push that's available volition besides depend on the device. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S3 uses the device menu button, whereas the Moto Ten offers an in-app push button.

One time information technology's added, tap the icon on the dwelling screen to open the widget (Figure A).

Figure A

A contact widget on a Verizon-branded Samsung Galaxy S4.

From the widget, yous tin place a call (by tapping the phone number), send an SMS (by tapping the SMS icon), send an email (by tapping the e-mail button), or open the contact for editing (past tapping the contact proper noun, tapping the card push button, and borer Edit).

If you're looking for one of the quickest means to gain access to ofttimes used contacts, effort calculation contact widgets to your home screen. You lot avoid a mess of straight-dial/direct-message icons and get even more features for your efforts.

How do y'all collaborate with your Android contacts? Do you create easy-to-use shortcuts — or do you tend to go the standard, long route to messaging, phoning, and emailing? Share your experience in the discussion thread beneath.