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Would iPad users benefit from having cell phone functionality?

Should the cellular iPad offer phone functionality?

  • Yes

    Votes: 28 44.4%

  • No

    Votes: 35 55.6%
  • Total voters
    63
  • Poll closed .
iDemiurge

iDemiurge

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Feb 7, 2011
275
212
Portugal
It has always struck me as odd that the cellular iPad does not have a phone app so that it can be used to make calls and send/receive SMS with its own number. Granted that many people wouldn't want to use it this way. The question is not whether it should have it, but why it doesn't have it, since it doesn't look like something overly complicated to implement.

Carriers could simply offer the option of data-only or data+phone plans.
 
Not in my opinion. I am not holding up a 10" tablet to my head to talk to someone on the phone.
 
iDemiurge said:
It has always struck me as odd that the cellular iPad does not have a phone app so that it can be used to make calls and send/receive SMS with its own number. Granted that many people wouldn't want to use it this way. The question is not whether it should have it, but why it doesn't have it, since it doesn't look like something overly complicated to implement.

Carriers could simply offer the option of data-only or data+phone plans.
Click to expand...

How is it odd? It's a tablet. Apple has the iPhone for calls.
 
OnceYouGoMac said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhk_OL-5aVo :D
Click to expand...

LOL, I've seen things worse than that in London's Soho...

Anyhow, I'm not suggesting anyone should hold an iPad to their ears. It just seems to me that it is a functionality that could be easily added since the hardware is basically there. Those who want it would probably be sensible enough to use earphones.

There could just be a toggle, active-deactivate phone number, and a phone app that could be easily hidden if desired.
 
SandboxGeneral said:
Not in my opinion. I am not holding up a 10" tablet to my head to talk to someone on the phone.
Click to expand...

you're not holding it up to your ear, you would put it on speaker phone. geeez, why do people insist that you must hold a huge tablet up? when you're on a conference call at work, sitting at a conference table and there is a conference speaker phone in the middle of the table, you don't see all the participants picking up the huge speaker phone do you?

since carriers are going to shared plans anyway, why NOT have iphones/ipads use the same minutes, messages, data?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
iDemiurge said:
LOL, I've seen things worse than that in London's Soho...

Anyhow, I'm not suggesting anyone should hold an iPad to their ears. It just seems to me that it is a functionality that could be easily added since the hardware is basically there. Those who want it would probably be sensible enough to use earphones.

There could just be a toggle, active-deactivate phone number, and a phone app that could be easily hidden if desired.
Click to expand...

But you argue that the question isn't if it should have it or not, but why it doesn't have it. The answer is quite simple, Apple has the iPhone if you want to make phone calls. They wouldn't go out of their way to add that functionality into the iPad.
 
PDFierro said:
But you argue that the question isn't if it should have it or not, but why it doesn't have it. The answer is quite simple, Apple has the iPhone if you want to make phone calls. They wouldn't go out of their way to add that functionality into the iPad.
Click to expand...

So you agree it should have it and that there is no reason for it not to have other than Apple/carriers wanting to restrict functionality for commercial reasons. Everything you can do with an iPad you can do with an iPhone, minus the big screen, yet Apple sells a lot of both.

Writing a pages document on an iPhone is inconvenient and not something people would do all the time, but pages is an universal app. Likewise the iPad wouldn't be the go-to phone for most, but it'd be good to have it as an option.
 
iDemiurge said:
So you agree it should have it and that there is no reason for it not to have other than Apple/carriers wanting to restrict functionality for commercial reasons. Everything you can do with an iPad you can do with an iPhone, minus the big screen, yet Apple sells a lot of both.

Writing a pages document on an iPhone is inconvenient and not something people would do all the time, but pages is an universal app. Likewise the iPad wouldn't be the go-to phone for most, but it'd be good to have it as an option.
Click to expand...

No, I don't agree that it should have it. I was responding with the logical reason why it wouldn't even make sense for Apple to have it.
 
SandboxGeneral said:
Not in my opinion. I am not holding up a 10" tablet to my head to talk to someone on the phone.
Click to expand...
What century do you come from? Bluetooth, Wired headphones. Speakerphone.

Think of it like the optional LTE antenna. You get the antenna version if you want Phone/LTE and you get the WiFi if you don't need it.

For for me then "phone calls" is probably the activity I do the least on my iPhone so IF it worked like iMessage where you have multiple devices tied to the same account then I could easily see carrying around an iPad Mini over an iPhone.
 
PDFierro said:
No, I don't agree that it should have it. I was responding with the logical reason why it wouldn't even make sense for Apple to have it.
Click to expand...

What doesn't make sense here is the logic that less is better. It's something that can be added without taking anything away. There is no trade-off.
 
iDemiurge said:
What doesn't make sense here is the logic that less is better. It's something that can be added without taking anything away. There is no trade-off.
Click to expand...

I am tiring of the iphone.
with the shared data plan it makes more sense for me to tote the ipad more and more.
Carrying an ipad/backpack doesn't bother me.

If I could have phone capability on the ipad I would dump the iphone immediately.
 
iDemiurge said:
What doesn't make sense here is the logic that less is better. It's something that can be added without taking anything away. There is no trade-off.
Click to expand...

Completely agree. If we're honest with ourselves, the only reason there isn't cellular functionality is to protect Apple's true cash cow, the iPhone. There are no technical issues with it. The Galaxy Tab 7 has built in cellular functions.

I've come to the conclusion actually that I don't really want two devices. I'd LOVE something like an iPad Mini which could also double as my phone.
 
augustya said:
Yes, but Only to be used as a speaker phone.
Click to expand...

Or bluetooth.... To your Nano Watch? :D

Seriously, how possible would this be? iPad with cell service that you can operate as speakerphone or with a Bluetooth headset... OR your brand ipod Nano?
 
appswipe said:
Or bluetooth.... To your Nano Watch? :D

Seriously, how possible would this be? iPad with cell service that you can operate as speakerphone or with a Bluetooth headset... OR your brand ipod Nano?
Click to expand...

I dont know if you are aware but even right now there are quite a few APPS paid one's which offer you calling service from your iPad. I have been using it for quite a while the voice quality ain't any great sounds like you are making a overseas distant call !
 
it could be a good speaker phone or good for using a headset with. The best thing would be to use in the car. sync up with bluetooth! i'd not go for either but i'm sure some would and i'd think it would be an easy thing to make happen since it's already got the antenna system.
 
I wouldn't mind the iPad having it. You could use a headset of some sort. What I would mind is the extra money it would cost. I don't want to have to have a cell plan for another device.
 
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