Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

All iPads How I've turned my iPad into a fully functional phone.

fasterthanfiber said:
If I saw someone walking down the street with an iPad held to his ear talking away I would have major difficulty fighting the urge to drop kick them. I have struggled too long to prevent this happening when taking pictures with iPads out in public but this would take me over the edge I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

Still don't understand what's wrong with taking pictures with an iPad. It's a device with a fine working camera. If it's all you got on you, what's the big deal?

As for holding your ear up to an iPad, no one would ever do that, most probably because theres no place for sound to come out except from the bottom or through headphones.
 
fasterthanfiber said:
If I saw someone walking down the street with an iPad held to his ear talking away I would have major difficulty fighting the urge to drop kick them. I have struggled too long to prevent this happening when taking pictures with iPads out in public but this would take me over the edge I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

A bit angry?? No one is suggesting holding the iPad like you said. I'm not even sure it is possible. When I was doing this I held the iPad like I do for FaceTime or Skype. Worked fine.
 
Some clarification

A point of clarification on the changes to Google Voice in May. What they are doing is shutting off the API that lets third party services access GVoice. This means Talkatone (which is awesome), as well as hardware devices like OBiTalk (which is even more awesome), will stop functioning. The GooG claimed that the APIs these services use break their T&C.

Gvoice is not going away, just third party access to it. That kind of sucks - I love my OBiTalk landline - and Talkatone is an awesome addition to my iPad Mini.

That being said, the hope is that Google Hangouts integration advances to include MMS, as well as SMS.
 
east85 said:
I explored this method but it was not right for me. Mainly because calling functionality in the US requires spending money. I don't see why I would do that when I can do this with Google Voice and Hangouts for free.

http://www.skype.com/en/rates/

With that said though if you're happy with Skype 3 bucks a month isn't a huge dent in anyones wallet.

----------



I just noticed your location is in the UK. To my knowledge this is only available in the US and Canada. You might want to explore using Skype. I just noticed this, sorry. :/
Click to expand...

Actually, google voice is not available in canada. I have been using talkatone linked to my google account for years now but i can only make outgoing calls and the caller ID will show a california phone number. There is no incoming calls functionality until you can get google voice. I have been waiting for it to be available in canada for so long now. Hopefully it will be soon.
 
i knew someone would be able to do this if they really wanted, FaceTime audio and iMessage could work if the only people you needed to contact had iPhones.
 
I'm setting up the Talkatone service replacement through Talkatone to preserve service using that app.

However, I'm going to try NOT porting the google voice phone number and instead using the call forwarding to whatever number Talkatone provides. The hope is that both calling & texting will continue to work as I've used it (mostly inbound calls plus texting in & out).

The only downside I can anticipate is that Talkatone outbound calls won't be free anymore but I generally make my outbound calls via Skype and now I could make outbound calls via that Google Hangouts app.

Google Hangouts app is OK but it's far from Talkatone. I've tried to get it working as a full replacement for Talkatone but it's just missing functionality (or intuitive access to similar functionality). For example, while using it to make a call is pretty simple, texting is either difficult or unintuitive to me (far from Talkatone texting simplicity).

I wish Google had decided to make something equal to or better than Talkatone (app) BEFORE deciding to kill the API (or just buy Talkatone and rebrand). Instead, we get something halfway with promises of additional functionality at some point down the road.
 
I've been using GV since before Google bought it and it was Grand Central. I'm still waiting for them to implement MMS support. I tried going full GV for a few months a while back, and the complete lack of MMS support killed it. I'd get texts from people saying "didn't you get my picture?!?" Nope. Didn't know you even sent one. And asking everyone I know to remember that they can't MMS me pics is not realistic (believe me, I tried.)

I actually have 2 GV lines - one for softphone use only (and what I sign up for crap where I know they'll call and harrass me) and then one for my dad's old cell line. He passed away about 18mo ago and instead of keeping his phone around for dealing with his estate, I converted it to a GV number so I could keep the number for free and get the calls to my phone w/o carrying multiple devices.

I've been using the GV app for it all, and it works just fine on the iPad as well. I've plugged in headphones and used the iPad to send/receive calls with it. Works great. I had no idea they were merging Hangouts and GV - I hope it goes smooth. These sort of things always make me a bit nervous. Seems like things get broken before they get better.
 
As @kelub points out... MMS is the biggest drawback from having it as a fully functional phone.

I've done this for quite some time, but luckily for me... most of my family is on iMessage & if I ever get in contact with someone that doesn't have iMessage I'll inform them to email the picture or use Hangouts or Skype or Yahoo... some form of messenger to get the picture successfully through.

That's the major gripe with using GV, is dealing with someone that wants to exchange MMS. It's cool being able to have the iPad as the main driver in my daily life, but until Google solves MMS then It's not something I could recommend to the average joe.
 
For those of you who actually rely on your iPad as a phone, have you ever been stuck in a situation where you were just plain out of range and couldn't make a call? What happens if your iPad drops to 2G? Can it even do that?
 
Harmonious Zen said:
For those of you who actually rely on your iPad as a phone, have you ever been stuck in a situation where you were just plain out of range and couldn't make a call? What happens if your iPad drops to 2G? Can it even do that?
Click to expand...

Data is data. If one was out of range to connect to a cell tower, they'd be out of range with a phone too. So yes, I've been out of range when hiking through some mountains. But the wife's iPhone was also out of range at the same time. If the iPad (or iPhone) drops to 2G (and both can), data just slows to 2G speed.

In short, there isn't a different cellular network for iPads vs. phones, nor are they using different data or connections. The cell towers don't "know" that one is a phone vs. a tablet. One is not penalized for not being the other. And so on.

If you are hunting for tangible disadvantages of using an iPad vs. phone:
  • pocketability
  • if you can only use a phone by holding it up to your ear, iPad would look weird used that way (the speakerphone method works but earbuds + microphone is THE way for more private conversations)
  • iPad generally comes with the need for that earphone + mic accessory
  • local 911 service can be a more complicated proposition and it could be an extra step or two to make/take a call in an emergency situation (but how often do any of us actually need 911 service)?
  • if you're one of those "need one-handed use" people (a very common argument among the "keep iPhone screen small" crowd), iPad is not easily used with just one hand
  • you may find people asking about making/taking calls on it (you teaching them that there are cell phone alternatives beyond phone-sized brick tech)
  • there's no physical vibrate ringer and the VOIP app generally needs to be running to take inbound calls
  • you are not using Apple's (created) perfection phone functionality app but someone elses which can never be as good :rolleyes: (cue words like "abomination", "ugly", etc. typically slung by those who can only see Apple-created software as good)

Beyond those, the list tends to spin into subjective bashes against the idea.

Countering: for those where none of the above is that important, it's possible to get either year-round free phone service (if you are pretty much always in a free wifi zone) or you can leverage cheap(er) data plans to have cell service anywhere. For example, I'm using the AT&T 3 months or 1GB plan for $25. Since I'm around wifi most of the time, 1GB over 3 months is just about perfect for me. So my annual cellular service bill will be up to $100 ("up to" because there are periods where I just don't need the cell service at all). I can take and make calls just like anyone else. My phone number is just as normal as anyone else's. I can receive or send texts just like anyone else. Voice mail covers the calls I can't take. $100/yr is much preferred to $500-$1000 or more per year.

Is this for everyone? No. But it works just fine for me. Plus, it's only 1 device to carry around instead of two. And, for cases like me, it works much better than people generally assume.
 
Last edited:
I just wanted to add a note about MMS. I've found that when my friends on T-Mobile and ATT send a picture to my GV # it is emailed to me as an attachment to Gmail. If anyone wants to test Verizon or Sprint feel free.

I've moved to using the Gmail app as my main SMS and voicemail client because I can reply to SMS easily and voicemail plays inline. There was a recent teardown of the Android APK for hangouts that looks promising in terms of full Google Voice integration across the board, assuming Google takes the same approach on iOS.
 
Last edited:
braddick said:
Can the above also be accomplished with an iPod Touch vs the iPad?
Click to expand...

Sure can! I use MagicJack App on the iPod Touch - clip on some ear buds/mic, and I have a free phone - works perfectly where ever there is a wifi signal.
 
There is a MajicJack app for all my US/Canada/Mexico calling needs. For $20/year you get any area code phone number and voicemail.
 
In a pinch, those small portable hotspot devices would work too. Minimal cost to always be connected.

Not a shabby idea really!
(The form and fit of the iTouch is sleeker than the iP5...)
 
HobeSoundDarryl said:
Data is data. If one was out of range to connect to a cell tower, they'd be out of range with a phone too. So yes, I've been out of range when hiking through some mountains. But the wife's iPhone was also out of range at the same time. If the iPad (or iPhone) drops to 2G (and both can), data just slows to 2G speed.
Click to expand...

I don't think this is completely true though. There are times when my iphone will be able to make calls, but won't have a data connection. Presumably, an LTE ipad wouldn't work either. Or am I missing something?

Now that you mention 911, how exactly do you make 911 calls? I agree, never once used 911 in all my years of having a phone. But it's one of those things you wouldn't want to not have when you need it.

----------
neutrino23 said:
It is not free but Line2 is an alternative for using an iOS device to get phone calls over the Internet.
Click to expand...

Curious to hear anyone's experience with Line2. Seems like a relatively full featured alternative.
 
Harmonious Zen said:
I don't think this is completely true though. There are times when my iphone will be able to make calls, but won't have a data connection. Presumably, an LTE ipad wouldn't work either. Or am I missing something?
Click to expand...

I'm not an expert and I'm sure others can chime in with definitive answers. I'm accustomed to using an iPad this way so I see cellular data as data (there's nothing else for me). However, I believe there are fall back channels for voice that may be separate from data. I don't get how voice could reach a tower but data could not reach the same tower but that might be frequencies or something like that (where one has a bit more distance than the other).

My experience with both is that when iPad as a phone loses cellular connection, so goes the iPhone. But my experience may not be universal. If someone chimes in saying it's not, I wonder if it ever works the other way too (iPhone loses cellular but iPad still has data). I think with LTE, data is data, so I believe the above speculation might only apply back in 4G and/or 3G and/or 2G. But someone else should clarify. All I've written with this answer could be wrong.

Harmonious Zen said:
Now that you mention 911, how exactly do you make 911 calls? I agree, never once used 911 in all my years of having a phone. But it's one of those things you wouldn't want to not have when you need it.
Click to expand...

911 can still be dialed just like on an iPhone. The issue is local 911. For instance, if you are registered at 123 Main Street in Kansas City but have a 911 emergency in Miami, the need will likely exist to be able to tell the 911 operator where you are. I'm not sure it works differently with the iPhone or if both iPhone and/or iPad would be able to be pinged for location in an emergency. Again, someone else should chime in. My note about 911 is driven by the general rule about how VOIP doesn't work as well as landline 911. Things may have evolved since I stored that bit of knowledge.

The "extra step or two" I referenced has to do with how an iPhone is basically always connected where an iPad used as a phone may or may not be connected. For instance, sometimes I'll let the cellular service lapse when I'm not going to be traveling. Everything phone-wise still works fine as I'm pretty much always in a wifi zone. However, if I was between wifi zones and had the need to make a 911 call, I'd have to turn on cellular, buy the plan and then dial 911. With an iPhone, there's no option to avoid the cellular toll when cellular is not needed so it's always ready for that 911 call. Since AT&T rolled out that 3 month $25 plan, there's much less financial reason NOT to keep an active cellular data feed to avoid this scenario (as rare as it would be for the average Joe). By the way, if anyone's wondering about what happens if it's wifi only and someone calls? Same as when you have an iPhone turned off and don't take the call. It goes to voice mail. I get it the next time I connect and then call them back.
 
Last edited:
Harmonious Zen said:
I don't think this is completely true though. There are times when my iphone will be able to make calls, but won't have a data connection.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Have had this happen a few times. Granted, call quality is pretty bad in these cases. I guess data requires better QoS than voice does. If there's analog fallback for voice, that might explain it. You know how on old NTSC, you get snow, noise, etc when you have bad signal from the TV station. Now with digital, it's all or nothing. Either you get the picture or you don't.
 
fasterthanfiber said:
If I saw someone walking down the street with an iPad held to his ear talking away I would have major difficulty fighting the urge to drop kick them. I have struggled too long to prevent this happening when taking pictures with iPads out in public but this would take me over the edge I'm afraid.
Click to expand...

Lol. You'd have to use an earpiece, be it Bluetooth or wired.
 
I have an obi with Google Voice set up. It still works ok for outgoing calls but not for incoming calls. I tried setting this up on my iPhone but the incoming call doesn't actually ring my phone, it just pops up a notification. Is there a way to actually make my phone ring?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back