Colnago, I am still not with you here but hop to get it. when I view a typical problem contact eg. work number is +1555 666 7777 x 123 (he also has a home and a Cell No. (extension x123 is stored as "p"123 so I can dial it from my phone.) I don't have any phone fields left to duplicate a number with and without the distention.

is this a proposed solution? because that would work for me!
As i see it my skype number and my phone numbers are the same when dialling, i would be happy to enter the phone extension by DTMF after the call connects, but i don't seem to have a different dial option for a skype entry and i cant enter a phone number in the skype name box.