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

[thelookingglass]

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.



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.

This is interesting because I was always under the impression that 911 calling was not possible through VOIP apps. What are you using on your iPad to dial 911 and have you actually tested it to know that it works?

 

[wariow]

Hello, I've been doing this on my ipad for almost half a year. It was great with talkatone since the app allowed me to see who's calling and saved all my favorites and history so I can make calls easily with one tap. Now since GV stopped supporting third party apps, I'm having to resort to using the Hangouts app which IMO is a far inferior app for making phone calls. Below are some items I'm having a hard time adjusting to with the Hangouts app:

1. When receiving calls, it only shows the cell phone number, not the contact name of who's calling.

2. The call history is wonky and sometimes gets deleted randomly (reboot app, app update, etc.) This is my only way of going to my recently called list.

3. There's no favorites list so I have to search for a person through the contact list each time if I want to make a phone call

4. Bluetooth doesn't work completely with the car, so it can't pick up automatically with the answer button, need to go into the app and answer. Realize that this is unrealistic since this is an ipad afterall but would like the convenience of a cell phone. The bluetooth does work with the car audio but it just needs to be answered manually which defeats the purpose of handsfree. Does anybody know how to get around this?


Anybody share their experiences or workarounds? I purposely ported my cell phone number to GV and do not want to use another number since it's been with me since the dawn of time. I'm about to go back to a carrier and get the iphone6+ but it's just so expensive with the cell phone plans and the phone cost itself. Also losing the convenience of answering phone calls from multiple devices is off-putting as well.

 

[reundo]

Hello, I've been doing this on my ipad for almost half a year. It was great with talkatone since the app allowed me to see who's calling and saved all my favorites and history so I can make calls easily with one tap. Now since GV stopped supporting third party apps, I'm having to resort to using the Hangouts app which IMO is a far inferior app for making phone calls. Below are some items I'm having a hard time adjusting to with the Hangouts app:

1. When receiving calls, it only shows the cell phone number, not the contact name of who's calling.

2. The call history is wonky and sometimes gets deleted randomly (reboot app, app update, etc.) This is my only way of going to my recently called list.

3. There's no favorites list so I have to search for a person through the contact list each time if I want to make a phone call

4. Bluetooth doesn't work completely with the car, so it can't pick up automatically with the answer button, need to go into the app and answer. Realize that this is unrealistic since this is an ipad afterall but would like the convenience of a cell phone. The bluetooth does work with the car audio but it just needs to be answered manually which defeats the purpose of handsfree. Does anybody know how to get around this?


Anybody share their experiences or workarounds? I purposely ported my cell phone number to GV and do not want to use another number since it's been with me since the dawn of time. I'm about to go back to a carrier and get the iphone6+ but it's just so expensive with the cell phone plans and the phone cost itself. Also losing the convenience of answering phone calls from multiple devices is off-putting as well.

I have been having the same exact issues with hangouts. I tried switching my sms from google voice to hangouts as well and its even worse.

 

[east85]

I tried switching my sms from google voice to hangouts as well and its even worse.

I'm guessing Hangouts 2.3 will fix this, as it will be on par with Hangouts 2.3 on Android which fixed the issue and displays names associated with phone numbers.

 

[reundo]

I'm guessing Hangouts 2.3 will fix this, as it will be on par with Hangouts 2.3 on Android which fixed the issue and displays names associated with phone numbers.

Lets hope so. It seems to work pretty well on Android.

 

[east85]

This update seems like it's taking forever. I guess it's just one of those things. Android users didn't have calling for almost a year while iOS did, now we have to wait for our numbers to show contact names properly. I just hope the release isn't staggered a year or anything insane like that.

 

[east85]

2.3 came, with support for iPhone 6 and 6+ screen support, still waiting.

 

[Farrellcollie]

Hangouts seems disasterous to me. I quit using it and went back to the plain gvoice app on my phone. I was a huge fan of talkatone.

 

[Cobb]

Google Voice is only available in US :-(
A question to all UppTalk users. Can you receive calls to your data-only sim card?

 

[DaniJoy]

Been doing this since 2010 on android with sip connections. Works good. I still have my original Samsung galaxy tab, it has a built in cell phone radio. Sucker is over five years old now. Use it daily. Only used cell phone once in Thailand, the rest of the time I just used data and voip or sip with google voice. Only fools pay for multiple devices and plans. Samsung was way head of the curve, back then Jobs was claiming that small size tablets and phones were DOA. now look at all the phones and tablets that are that size. Lol.

Will give it a try on my IPP It's probably time to retire the Galaxy tab, but it just won't die!