Android tablet as a phone

Serephucus

Can it be done?

I'm looking at picking up an ASUS Transformer. It's got sixteen hours of battery life, and a SIM slot, so with a headset it could easily replace my phone.

I'm not too familiar with what can be done with VIOP and what services exist, though I know the theory.

One option is that I could get a Skype number, but on top of having to pay €50 for it per year, most networks don't include 076 numbers in their price plans - they're basically premium numbers as far as I understand it.

Side-question, but related: Is is possible for me to get a second SIM on the same contract as me, with the same number? It'd be so I wouldn't have to keep transferring my SIM between my phone and tablet.

Thanks all.

Tom Dunne

It can be done, but it is an absolute pain in the behind.

I'm living abroad and I was back in Ireland for a week recently and decided to take my Samsung Galaxy Tab with me using my Irish SIM. While it is great for travelling and e-mail and all that fun stuff, it is a complete turkey when using it as a phone.

Having to reach for a headset every time you need to make a phonecall is an absolute pain. And of course, there is the size factor.

The other alternative is using it as handsfree and sharing your phone conversations with all around you.

Bluefoam

Serephucus

Well I have a headset in mind that's very small, and would actually be a lot easier to dig out of my jeans than my phone. I know it might be a bit odd, but I'd love to give it a try out of curiosity. If it doesn't work out, grand, but then I know.

How did you go about setting it up, out of interest?

justsomebloke

Tom Dunne wrote: »

I'm living abroad and I was back in Ireland for a week recently and decided to take my Samsung Galaxy Tab with me using my Irish SIM. .

I know the Tab had phone capabilities but does the transformer have it to?

Serephucus

I'm not 100% sure. I'm honestly not too familiar with this to know what's required.

As it's not even released yet, I don't know for certain, but there is - apparently - to be a 3G version, with a SIM slot, so I assume that means yes? As long as I get some sort of app?

Tom Dunne

Serephucus wrote: »

How did you go about setting it up, out of interest?

Not sure what you mean? If you mean the bluetooth headset, it took all of five seconds.

Joe the Santa wrote: »

I know the Tab had phone capabilities but does the transformer have it to?

Say what now?

bd250110

Serephucus wrote: »

As it's not even released yet, I don't know for certain, but there is - apparently - to be a 3G version, with a SIM slot, so I assume that means yes? As long as I get some sort of app?

I would imagine you would have to root the device and then load a custom ROM. I think this custom ROM would need to be specifically for your device with phone functions enabled to work with whatever hardware is available on the device.
The other issue is does this device have a suitable mic? Either built-in or that you can use with headphones.
It sounds like it would be possible, but wont be easy. You might have to do a lot of the work yourself.

allen175

im pretty sure that the transformer doesn't have a sim card slot, in the current model anyway.

Serephucus

I'll try explain what I'm looking for a little better.

I'd like some sort of app that could make the tablet work as a phone over 3G. The only reason I'm not going with Skype is because is costs other people more to call the 076 number that would link to my Skype account.

The current model available on Amazon is the 16GB WiFi only. There's talk of a 64GB version with 3G and WiFi though, available on launch day. The 3G version though - I don't think - won't have a phone app built in like the Tab.

@ Tom: I meant how did you go about making calls from the tablet, did you just stick your SIM in and dial a number or what?

srsly78

Paying extra for a tablet with 3g contract is throwing your money away. As has been stated, they are pretty terrible for making normal phone calls (video calls etc over internet is different). Get a smartphone that can share it's internet connection and a wifi-only tablet, then you have everything you need.

Serephucus

I'm not getting a tablet specifically to make calls. I'm getting a tablet, and it'd be handy if it could make calls as well, because it'd be taking over every function of my phone that's not call-making.

I know it's not ideal, but it'd still like to know the easiest way to do it, if anyone has done it.

srsly78

Not done it, but I suppose a samsung galaxy tab with simcard + bluetooth handsfree kit could avoid the silliness illustrated in the picture above. Just run the normal android phone app afaik. Note some simcards can be data-only, would have to be a "normal" smartphone simcard. Not sure if they sell you voice with it.

Run_to_da_hills

With the ever increasing screen size of some of these smartphones they may as well be tablets.

Tom Dunne

Serephucus wrote: »

@ Tom: I meant how did you go about making calls from the tablet, did you just stick your SIM in and dial a number or what?

Yeah, it was as simple as that, though the device had to reboot once it detected a SIM for the first time.

It is pretty much an oversized phone.

You can of course put a 3G SIM in it to, just for data. I am pretty sure Skype works over 3G (I haven't tested it in Ireland, but I have tested it abroad).

And interesting side note on using the bluetooth headset on a device such as this - people don't realise you are on the phone and will interrupt you. It drove me crazy.

hardCopy

Run_to_da_hills wrote: »

With the ever increasing screen size of some of these smartphones they may as well be tablets.

Heh, I'm hoping the new HTC Sensation will be big enough to satisfy any urge I may have for a tablet.

I don't think I need one, but for some reason I feel I need to buy one to find out.

The closest I've come to buying one was the Archos 10.1 but that's gotten very bad reviews since it came out and has put me off for a while.

Serephucus

The only reason I haven't bought a tablet is that I can't do anything "serious" with one, without a keyboard. It's just too slow. That's why I'm loving the look of the ASUS Transformer.

If I can't use it as a phone it's not the end of the world. This will be a netbook first anyway, so it's not a loss.

srsly78

All good tablets have usb ports. Just plug keyboard in.

mickoneill30

srsly78 wrote: »

All good tablets have usb ports. Just plug keyboard in.

And bluetooth.

Serephucus

I try to have as few devices as possible. I don't like carrying a bunch of stuff around. This is why my MP3 player is also my phone, and why my tablet will also be my laptop.

srsly78

mickoneill30 wrote: »

And bluetooth.

Yup, have my eye on this one: http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/16/microsoft-bluetooth-mobile-keyboard-6000-the-perfect-travel-key/