iPad mini iPad Mini is my iPhone phablet. Only $20 a month.

[macsation]

what I have read, it will have LTE

suppose to be out Sept-October

The price looks like it may be crazy high though. If its over a grand probably won't get it.

The reason to get this is to save on data costs for the tablet by not being forced into a shared plan. The new AT&T AIO prepaid plan looks great. Unlimited talk n text and 7gb data for $70 flat rate. Be great to use this with it. Save a ton.

 

[doug in albq]

Boy, a lot of posts putting down the concept by ignoring the fundamental concept that the idea is NOT for everyone. OP says he doesn't need to make many calls, so 2000-voice-minutes-per-month guy and other are probably not good candidates for this option. Those who value pocket-ability enough to pay the much greater toll are also not candidates for this option.

Where it works is for those that don't need that much 24/7 phone (voice) service (the mostly text & data people especially). It works for those that need to be able to call back but not necessarily to be immediately on call for inbound calls (though it can receive inbound calls). It works for those who don't mind carrying the bigger form factor- who have a bigger pocket (like a suit pocket), backpack, laptop or other case. It works for those that want to carry the least load possible (so they don't need an iPhone and an iPad).

Most importantly though- for those where it does work- it offers a HUGE cost savings vs. an iPhone. $20/month times 12 months = $240/year. In my own case, I only need cellular data for this just a few months each year so my bill will end up at about $80 for a WHOLE YEAR! Wifi works well enough for the rest of the year. Do I feel like I'm missing anything vs. an iPhone? Not a thing (for my personal situation).

I appreciate the "must be able to make & receive calls anywhere at anytime", heavy voice users, pocket-ability and so on. If that's very important to you, this idea is obviously not for you. For me, it's not important enough to pay about $1,000/year for those benefits.

It's a very good solution if most of your "cell phone" use is texting & data with only some voice needs. When you do need voice, it can be as good as Skype (in fact, Skype is an app I tend to use to make outbound calls to landlines & mobile). Call quality is as good as Skype tends to be. Talkatone is quite good for inbound calls, texts, etc. too. If you'd rather pocket about $750 or more each year than give it to AT&T, Verizon, etc and this fits your needs, it's a great way to go.

Way to profoundly sum up my thinking with this setup. Some people get it.


I find it funny the 4 or 5 post in a row about the terrible quality of VOIP apps...almost seems like sophisticated trolling. Talkatone works just fine for my needs.

 

[macizcool]

I think it's great that some people can get away with a setup like this. Bravo for sticking it to the scam artists we call cell phone carriers.

However, this is not a setup for me. I want a real phone number that people can call and text, even when I'm traveling. And I know there are many like me out there.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

However, this is not a setup for me. I want a real phone number that people can call and text, even when I'm traveling. And I know there are many like me out there.

With a voip product like Talkatone or Skype, you get a "real" phone number that people can call and/or text. It's not some weird number; it looks just like any other cell phone number you call or text. The end result is a voice (phone) app much like the voice phone app that runs on the iPhone. People can call you and you can call them. People can text you and you can text them. The iPad "rings" just like an iPhone (same ringtone if you like). Voice & texts arrive and depart just as fast as a "real" iPhone. If the cell signal is good in an area on an iPhone it will be good in the same area on an iPad (because both are using the same cell signal).

The net differences are finer. For example, if a vibrate option is important to you, an iPad Mini won't vibrate. Another example: this is really a earphones with mic or bluetooth required solution (you're probably not holding it up to your ear like a dedicated phone). And so on.

Personally, while I do occasionally need to take calls, I can let most calls go to voice mail (though I could take them live if I wanted to do so). I'm rarely if ever in an urgent situation where I must receive a call right when it is made. As such, this is perfect for me as it will receive calls to voice mail just like an iPhone (and again, I can take the live calls whenever I want). I can text & use the Internet at least as good as I can on an iPhone (I think better with the extra screen real estate). And I don't need to carry 2 devices- a phone AND a tablet- as there is enough utility here (for my needs) to kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Most importantly again: instead of about $1000+ per year, I'll pay about $80 for the WHOLE YEAR for cell service (only when I need cell service), covering my iPhone-like needs just fine using readily available (for me) wifi the rest of the time. I like $80 per year much better than $1000+ per year... especially when it doesn't feel like I'm missing a thing. If pocket-ability, vibrate, holding it to your ear, call taking/making urgency, etc are worth an extra about $800-$900 or more per year, the iPhone is THE way to go. If those benefits aren't worth $800-$900 more per year, this can work pretty well for a lot of people.

 

[macizcool]

With a voip product like Talkatone or Skype, you get a "real" phone number that people can call and/or text. It's not some weird number; it looks just like any other cell phone number you call or text. The end result is a voice (phone) app much like the voice phone app that runs on the iPhone. People can call you and you can call them. People can text you and you can text them. The iPad "rings" just like an iPhone (same ringtone if you like). Voice & texts arrive and depart just as fast as a "real" iPhone. If the cell signal is good in an area on an iPhone it will be good in the same area on an iPad (because both are using the same cell signal).

I understand how it works, I apologize for being vague. What I meant was a real phone with a real phone number. One that will work when I'm out and about, on the bus, walking the streets, traveling the interstate, etc. A phone call and text are much more reliable on a carrier's voice network than their high speed internet network or an open wifi network.

In my position, I need to be available at all times. I'm hoping that at some point in my life, I can go Voip only. I hate being so connected.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

That is my experience. It is a real phone number- same exact format: XXX-XXX-XXXX. It works just like a phone when I'm "out and about", on a bus, walking the street, traveling the interstate, etc.

I don't notice any loss of voice call quality vs. cell phones using the exact same network. In fact, I've always found a service like Skype sounds better than most of the cell phone calls I've ever made. I often use Skype on this iPad for outbound calls & call backs (to mobile phone users and landlines). Sounds great to me... and those with whom I'm voice chatting.

Yes, to be "out and about" such that I wouldn't be around wifi would require the cellular $20/month fee but I find that much better than paying the same company $100/month to use the exact same cellular connection. As has been said multiple times, this is NOT for everyone. But for those that can live with the differences (which are never as huge as many seem to think), the savings is about $50-$100+ each month.

It's definitely NOT for everyone but it would work well for many who would rather keep their money than give it to the likes of AT&T, Verizon, etc... especially for those where their voice usage is third vs. texting & data (like me).

 

[macsation]

I don't notice any loss of voice call quality vs. cell phones using the exact same network. In fact, I've always found a service like Skype sounds better than most of the cell phone calls I've ever made.

Absolutely not my experience around Philly and S Jersey. As i said before, latency was typically awful, especially when driving. My friends on the other line could oftentimes barely hear me. Maybe packed metro areas provide a worse experience with VOIP over data...idk.

Of course Skype and other VOIP work pretty good over wifi.

If you don't need consistent cellular service, than by all means choose a data only plan!

 

[Aspasia]

I just made a call from my land line to a friend's iPad Mini. We regularly use the TextNow app for texting but had not tried using it as a phone. She purchased 500 minutes for eight bucks. I'm in Michigan; she is currently in NY.

I called her TextNow number - the call went through quickly, and call quality was excellent.

I just might try this with the TextNow app on my iPod Touch 5, using it as a backup to my (dumb) cell phone.

 

[ctyrider]

That is my experience. It is a real phone number- same exact format: XXX-XXX-XXXX. It works just like a phone when I'm "out and about", on a bus, walking the street, traveling the interstate, etc.

It is _almost_ like a real phone number, but not quite.

If you use Skype-In as your main phone number - their SMS support is very sketchy. They charge you extra for every SMS, and your outbound SMS messages don't appear to originate from your Skype number, so it's confusing to recepients. SMS to Skype numbers isn't supported. The messages just go to a nice black hole.

Skype background operation on iOS isn't very reliable.. Very often the app gets suspended from the memory, so all the incoming calls get missed until the app is restarted.

If you use Talkatone / GVoice - you cannot send (or receive in some cases) international SMS. Talkatone iOS UI is atrociously bad.

Also.. You lose the benefits of iMessage tied to your phone number with both of those solutions.

Of course to some these limitations might not be critical, and still worth saving $240 (or however much) a year. To me - constantly trying to fight around the limitations of iOS VoIP apps, combined with lack of pocketability, has become rather tiresome.

I got tired of people not being able to reliably reach me and complaining about voice quality when talking to me. So I went back to a real iPhone and a real voice plan. With MVNO competition these days - you don't need to pay $60/month to AT&T or Verizon. Me and my wife pay $30/month per line for unlimited voice/text and 500Mb of data to one of AT&T MVNOs, and enjoy aggravation-free voice connectivity.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

You would think I called somebody's kid ugly or something.

Here's exactly what I do: Talkatone covers inbound calls (if I want to take them live) and texting in and out. The iPad will "ring" just like an iPhone (same ring tone if I want to use it). I can answer or let the call go to voice mail (it shows me who is calling).

Talkatone revolves around Google Voice so all of the other benefits that can be had with Google Voice applies (and there are many of them). It is EXACTLY like a "real" number. Those I call or text can't tell that it's not a cell phone number (exact same number format, exact same cell-phone like functionality, they call the number just like calling an iPhone number, they text me just like texting an iPhone number, etc).

Contrary to what the above says, it all works just fine (for me). Call quality is fine. I've never had anyone complain about the call quality (in fact, just the opposite). I choose to use Skype out for call-backs because I have Skype anyway for cross-plaform video conferencing purposes and I perceive the call quality is just a bit higher on Skype. It doesn't mean I can't/don't use Talkatone out sometimes but most of the time I use Skype.

This solves every problem speculated on for MY (not YOUR) situation.

I find the Talkatone UI to be just fine... works just fine... as usable as just about anything else like it. Did Apple design it themselves? No, so I understand that it has to be "atrocious" if there is an Apple-designed alternative, etc. Whether one can objectively judge a UI atrocious or not, I personally don't find it so atrocious that I want to pay a whole LOT more for a "real" phone. For my (not YOUR) purposes, I would just be wasting a bunch more money for no tangible benefits important to me (not YOU).

I could care less about iMessage being tied to my phone number- I use Talkatone for texts in and out. It works perfectly fine. I don't need iMessage as that functionality is already fully covered for MY purposes. iMessage is basically a useless app for my (not YOUR) purposes.

Again (for about the 5th time), it's NOT for everyone. Is that clear??? It's NOT FOR EVERYONE. My liking it for my needs is not trying to force it on anyone else. Congratulations to anyone and everyone happy with iPhone and iPhone service costs. I don't find fault with you for having different wants & needs for YOUR purposes. Just because this works great for ME doesn't force it on others.

Anyone interested in leveraging an iPad with cellular this way, it works pretty well. If you are not like some of these other guys in this thread who seem to only be able to see voice communications ONE way, you may find that an iPad and the right apps can cover your needs (and save you a lot of money too). If you are unsure, try it and see for yourself. If not, you can always add an iPhone with no consequence as this doesn't lock you into a 2-year contract or even a monthly cellular toll (use cellular anytime/anywhere connection when you need it, wifi when you don't).

Cue 50 more posts claiming it doesn't work, how "atrocious" this and that is, "complete fail," and on and on. But if you like keeping some money in your pocket and are interested in exploring this, try it and see for yourself. If like the OP and me, the voice part of a cell phone is not that important, it is a GREAT alternative to a typically much more expensive iPhone plan. If- like me- you spend most of your time around accessible wifi, you may find you don't even need to spend the $20/month for cell service. I just buy cell service when I'm traveling and know I'll have less access to wifi than my normal situation; as such, my entire ANNUAL cell service bill looks like it's going to top out at $80. And I don't feel like I'm missing a thing for my (not YOUR) situation.

Maybe these other guys work for Apple or AT&T, Verizon, etc??? I'm not endorsing a Samsung product here; one has to buy Apple hardware and use Apple-approved apps from the Apple-owned app store to go this way.

 

[lyngo]

The only real issue that I could see with all of this is emergency situations with no real 911 options.

 

[BruiserB]

I've been doing this for a while now (stolen iphone 5) and talkatone is not super reliable and doesn't work so well. Google voice works pretty great on the comp tho. The real prob is if you aren't on unlimited data, I don't talk too much and poof my 3 gb is gone just using talk atone. The bluetooth headset is a good idea, but I'm afraid it will make the talaktone quality even more delayed and robotic as I use a hardwired iphone cable and it's still problems. I may end up getting a note 3 as my company won't replace my iphone but will subsidize an android

A couple of options if you don't like Talkatone.....

Download the Vonage app. You can make unlimited US calls with it and it has pretty good voice quality. You can set it up to show your Google Voice number on Caller ID so no one will know you're using Vonage. Doesn't work for incoming calls though.

Otherwise download an app called GV Mobile +. It s a great Google Voice front end and can actually place calls through Google Chat like Talkatone does. I've found the quality superior. Doesn't work for incoming calls yet, but the developer is working on that.

 

[doug in albq]

It is _almost_ like a real phone number, but not quite.

If you use Skype-In as your main phone number - their SMS support is very sketchy. They charge you extra for every SMS, and your outbound SMS messages don't appear to originate from your Skype number, so it's confusing to recepients. SMS to Skype numbers isn't supported. The messages just go to a nice black hole.

Skype background operation on iOS isn't very reliable.. Very often the app gets suspended from the memory, so all the incoming calls get missed until the app is restarted.

If you use Talkatone / GVoice - you cannot send (or receive in some cases) international SMS. Talkatone iOS UI is atrociously bad.

Also.. You lose the benefits of iMessage tied to your phone number with both of those solutions.

Of course to some these limitations might not be critical, and still worth saving $240 (or however much) a year. To me - constantly trying to fight around the limitations of iOS VoIP apps, combined with lack of pocketability, has become rather tiresome.

I got tired of people not being able to reliably reach me and complaining about voice quality when talking to me. So I went back to a real iPhone and a real voice plan. With MVNO competition these days - you don't need to pay $60/month to AT&T or Verizon. Me and my wife pay $30/month per line for unlimited voice/text and 500Mb of data to one of AT&T MVNOs, and enjoy aggravation-free voice connectivity.

Picking on the minuscule differences. And the savings is way more than $240 a year. Closer to $1,000 savings per year. Let me say that again, $1,000 a year less money to a cell phone provider.

----------

The only real issue that I could see with all of this is emergency situations with no real 911 options.

Put your local police number in your contacts. Done.

 

[mikeoui]

I actually did this with my iPhone 4 today. Set it up with an iPad data plan on TELUS (Canada). I had to do a custom configuration for the plan to work with my phone, but, as my phone is unlocked, it was totally on the up and up. I'll save more than $600/year.

 

[doug in albq]

I mostly created this thread as an informative way to CIRCUMVENT THE OUTRAGEOUS PRICES FROM CELLULAR COMPANIES IN THE US. It is much cheaper in even the overpriced EU, and should be around $29 a month for average usage in the US. Screw you for screwing us, cell providers....

 

[TacticalDesire]

I had to live like this for a while when my phone broke and all I had was a 2nd gen iPod touch (didn't feel like getting another phone as I didn't care as much at the time). Used textfree/pinger with a local area code number and it was horribly inconvienient at times but I managed for a year. Don't want to go back to that again at all. Especially now where I need to be reached much more than I did before. I would never go back to that again. But hypothetically if I had to I would use an off contract phone or an iPod touch long before I'd use an iPad.

 

[skiltrip]

For $30/month, I have a rooted Galaxy S3 on T-Mobile's $30 100min/Unlimited data/unlimited text plan. I occasionally tether my iPad mini for calls via Talkatone. But I have an actual phone. IF you have good T-Mobile coverage where you are (I do) this is hard to beat.

 

[SHirsch999]

If only there was a cellular version to the iPod Touch.... It would likely become the best-selling mobile device in history, for many of the reasons outlined in this thread, but cellular companies would never allow it. Too much money to be made gouging consumers for unneeded voice and text plans.

 

[colodane]

This is a good thread - lots of practical advice - Thanks!

I too have no smart phone, mostly because of the outrageous charges for the integrated data/voice plans. I travel enough, including up in the mountains and rural areas, that good cellular coverage over the USA is important to me. Consequently I use Verizon. Here is what works for me:

My actual phone needs are minimal. Email is my preferred mode of communication, and I tell that to all of my contacts. Do use voice some when traveling or for making/receiving the occasional call. I have a small LG "dumb" flip phone that is smaller and lighter than any smart phone (iPhone included) and also has much better battery life. I use a prepaid Verizon voice and text plan on this phone. 99 cents for each day I place a call plus 10 cents per minute (no charge for other Verizon mobile numbers such as my wife). Zero taxes or fees and no contract. My total monthly cost for this ranges from $5 to $15, probably averaging about $10.

Also have an iPad2 with Verizon cellular data plan. Use wi-fi at home or in places with wi-fi available and use the cell connection otherwise. I have the $20 a month 1GB prepaid plan which meets all of my travel needs. Can even turn it off and not be charged if I'm not traveling for awhile.

I also use Google Voice, which is terrific. It will take any incoming calls to my voice plan and automatically record and transcribe any voicemail directly to my email with out incurring any charge to my voice plan. This way I can get most all of my incoming phone calls on email on either my iPad or on my iPod Touch 5G. I can then usually transition the caller to email rather than needing to call back on phone. I normally leave my phone turned off and only turn it on when expecting or placing an important call or sometimes when traveling.

So I have good coverage and convenient phone and data service across the USA with Verizon for a total of about $30 a month. If and when Verizon comes out with a phone/data plan similar to what Tmobile has I might consider getting an iPhone. Until then I'm quite happy with my current arrangement.

I completely agree with a previous comment about an iPod Touch with a cellular chip in it. That would indeed be an awesome product!!

 

[ctyrider]

Again (for about the 5th time), it's NOT for everyone. Is that clear??? It's NOT FOR EVERYONE.

It seems like YOU are getting a bit defensive over this. By definition, anyone posting their opinions and experiences here is speaking for themselves and their own use patterns. Isn't this the whole point of the thread? There is no need for 10-paragraph of "what works for me may not work for you" disclaimers - that comes without saying.

Picking on the minuscule differences. And the savings is way more than $240 a year. Closer to $1,000 savings per year.

The differences are not "miniscule" to me. When my colleague sends an SMS from London - I would like to be able to receive it and respond without jumping through hoops. I also like to have the confidence that I will receive an emergency phone call, and it doesn't go straight into voice mail.

The savings are nowhere near what you say they are, if you are smart about it. The difference between an iPad data-only plan and my iPhone voice+data MVNO plan is just $10/month. So it's $240 a year, which to me is worth very penny in saved aggravation over VoIP on iPad.

 

[Boyd01]

Absolutely not my experience around Philly and S Jersey.

I am in the same area and agree. I have tried using Skype on my iPhone to stay in touch with a friend in Europe, and had a lot of issues. Haven't tried this recently with the current Skype app or iOS 6 though. In the past, under iOS 4, it was hit or miss as to whether a Skype call would even ring thru on my phone (Skype wouldn't "wake up" while running in the background). Has this improved?

 

[ctyrider]

hit or miss as to whether a Skype call would even ring thru on my phone (Skype wouldn't "wake up" while running in the background). Has this improved?

It hasn't. "Backgrounded" apps in iOS aren't reliable enough when it comes to receiving phone calls. Same goes for apps relying on APNS. Unlike texting and IM apps, Voice apps must be "always on", as you only have a few seconds to complete the signaling process. If you are in a weak or congested data coverage area - your cell calls and SMS will complete fine, while VoIP calls will end up in voicemail.

 

[Fruit Cake]

You're definitely right there. I rely on vibrate a lot with my phone; I almost never have the sound on. .

That's what she said

 

[Spacial]

My One Month Experiment

When I decided to buy an iPad mini, I chose the Wi-Fi + LTE Model. I ended up enjoying & using it so much, my iPhone became nearly useless except to make calls. When it comes to the phone, it's never been something I've used heavily so I've ended up with lots of unused minutes at months end. That lead me to rethink what devices would work best and return the most value for the money I spend with my carrier.

Today begins my one month long test period, here's what I've decided to use. I picked up a free sim card and installed it in my old, yet "like new" Motorola flip phone. For only $17.50 per month I get 200 minutes & 100 texts.

My iPad mini is only $30 per month, so my total monthly bill is a low $47.50. That's less than half of what I was spending for my iPhone and the best part is I'm contract free.

By the end of the month I'll know just how this worked out on a daily basis.

 

[divergirl]

I tried something like this similar with my Android smartphone once with Google Voice except with texts (I dropped my texting plan and used GV to text over data, with a 100MB plan for $3/mo). I ultimately switched back to a traditional texting plan though, as GV kept losing some of my texts (both incoming and outgoing). They wouldn't show up on the GV website on my computer, or on my phone, or anywhere. They were just never delivered, period. It got to the point where people were getting mad that I wasn't responding to their texts, and I got so fed up I just went back to a texting plan.

After I got the traditional texting plan (1000 texts for $5/mo), I decided to just drop my data plan, so now I just pay for voice and texting on my smartphone and use WiFi for when I want to go online.

Maybe if GV ever becomes more reliable or if a more reliable texting app comes out that still lets you have a real phone number, I will go back to the voice + data combination and save two bucks a month. But for now, this will have to do.