I've been trying to help someone on Reddit who is visiting the U.S. and
wanted to have a cell number on his iPad. He already has his foreign
Android device and wanted a U.S. number, using an eSIM, to use on his
iPad while he was here while keeping his foreign number on his Android
phone.

Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.
Android tablets can. The only solution for an iPad is a VOIP SIM card
like is sold by TextNow, and which used to be sold by FreedomPop and
Unreal Mobile, but these don't have eSIM versions.

I added this to document as 216a on page 105.

sms wrote:

> Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.
> Android tablets can.

Are you sure about that Steve?

My iPad has the free-for-life 200MB/month T-Mobile SIM card and it works as
a phone in the USA to call and receive calls to and from POTS & cell lines.
<https://i.postimg.cc/nhpbcP50/tmopromo04.jpg> iPad tablet VOIP works fine

For free, I have a Google Voice line that makes and accepts POTS/Mobile
calls for free as long as I'm calling a number in the USA.

Is your issue the overseas aspect?

For that, can't you just pay the two cents a minute (or whatever) Google
charges for overseas phone calls?

On 2023-03-09, Andy Burnelli <nospam@nospam.net> wrote:
> sms wrote:
>
>> Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.
>> Android tablets can.
>
> Are you sure about that Steve?
>
> My iPad has the free-for-life 200MB/month T-Mobile SIM card and it works as
> a phone in the USA to call and receive calls to and from POTS & cell lines.
> <https://i.postimg.cc/nhpbcP50/tmopromo04.jpg> iPad tablet VOIP works fine
>
> For free, I have a Google Voice line that makes and accepts POTS/Mobile
> calls for free as long as I'm calling a number in the USA.
>
> Is your issue the overseas aspect?
>
> For that, can't you just pay the two cents a minute (or whatever) Google
> charges for overseas phone calls?

I think what he's saying is there's a difference between a regular SIM and
a data SIM. You have a data SIM. I think he's assuming a different kind.

In article <tudqfg$1l791$2@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

> Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.

yes it can, although using a tablet as a phone is quite silly.

In article <tudqqu$1081f$1@paganini.bofh.team>, Andy Burnelli
<nospam@nospam.net> wrote:

> sms wrote:
> > Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.
> > Android tablets can.
>
> Are you sure about that Steve?

he's wrong.

On 3/9/2023 3:44 PM, Incubus wrote:
> On 2023-03-09, Andy Burnelli <nospam@nospam.net> wrote:
>> sms wrote:
>>
>>> Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a
>>> phone. Android tablets can.
>>
>> Are you sure about that Steve?
>>
>> My iPad has the free-for-life 200MB/month T-Mobile SIM card and it
>> works as
>> a phone in the USA to call and receive calls to and from POTS & cell
>> lines.
>>  <https://i.postimg.cc/nhpbcP50/tmopromo04.jpg> iPad tablet VOIP works
>> fine
>> For free, I have a Google Voice line that makes and accepts POTS/Mobile
>> calls for free as long as I'm calling a number in the USA.
>>
>> Is your issue the overseas aspect?
>>
>> For that, can't you just pay the two cents a minute (or whatever) Google
>> charges for overseas phone calls?
>
> I think what he's saying is there's a difference between a regular SIM and
> a data SIM. You have a data SIM. I think he's assuming a different kind.

It isn't about the cost pf making international calls, there are many
apps for that.

Here is the situation:

1. He has an Android phone with a foreign phone number. He doesn't want
to remove that SIM because he wants to be able to receive calls on his
foreign number.

2. He wants a U.S. number to make and receive calls while he's in the U.S..

3. He has two devices with him:
1) an Android phone
2) an iPad with cellular capability that supports eSIM and pSIM.

4. If his second device were another phone, or an Android tablet that
supported phone functionality, this would not be a problem.
Unfortunately, cellular iPads don't include the hardware and software
bits to be used as a phone.

5. There is a solution with a pSIM using a service like TextNow, see
<https://apps.apple.com/us/app/textnow-call-text-unlimited/id314716233>.
He''d prefer an eSIM since there is no physical store selling TextNow
physical SIM cards.

6. When you're visiting a foreign country, it's really helpful to have a
local phone number for that country (or region), not just data. This has
been an issue with the U.S. models of the iPhone 14 that lack a physical
SIM slot. While it's easy to buy a short-duration, data-only, eSIM, it's
usually not possible to buy an eSIM that includes a local number for
calls and texts.

7. In many countries, when you sign up for cellular service with a phone
number, even short-term, you have to provide some documentation like a
passport, but for data-only there is no such requirement. There are EU
SIM cards that don't require registration until after 30 days of use,
i.e. "Customer registration mandatory here for customers who wish to
keep using the SIM for more than 30 days. Line stays active indefinitely
provided a top-up is made every 6 months,"
<https://top-up.orange.com/orange-holiday-sim-card/>. This company lets
you submit your identification electronically.

In article <tufker$21dna$1@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

> 4. If his second device were another phone, or an Android tablet that
> supported phone functionality, this would not be a problem.

it's another one of your manufactured problems.

he can get an esim (or regular sim) for his ipad, without any problem
whatsoever.

> Unfortunately, cellular iPads don't include the hardware and software
> bits to be used as a phone.

yes they do with appropriate apps, and he already has an active phone
anyway.

> 6. When you're visiting a foreign country, it's really helpful to have a
> local phone number for that country (or region), not just data.

not really, since in most cases, nobody will be calling you on that
number.

> This has
> been an issue with the U.S. models of the iPhone 14 that lack a physical
> SIM slot.

given that the iphone 14 has been among the best selling smartphones,
it's clearly not an issue, except perhaps to a very tiny minority of
users.

> While it's easy to buy a short-duration, data-only, eSIM, it's
> usually not possible to buy an eSIM that includes a local number for
> calls and texts.

it's very possible.

the only issue is that it's not available *everywhere*, yet.

> 7. In many countries, when you sign up for cellular service with a phone
> number, even short-term, you have to provide some documentation like a
> passport, but for data-only there is no such requirement.

which makes it even easier. who wants to deal with unnecessary hassles?

On 2023-03-10 08:29, nospam wrote:
> In article <tufker$21dna$1@dont-email.me>, sms
> <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>
>> 4. If his second device were another phone, or an Android tablet that
>> supported phone functionality, this would not be a problem.
>
> it's another one of your manufactured problems.
>
> he can get an esim (or regular sim) for his ipad, without any problem
> whatsoever.
>
>> Unfortunately, cellular iPads don't include the hardware and software
>> bits to be used as a phone.
>
> yes they do with appropriate apps, and he already has an active phone
> anyway.
>
>> 6. When you're visiting a foreign country, it's really helpful to have a
>> local phone number for that country (or region), not just data.
>
> not really, since in most cases, nobody will be calling you on that
> number.

And also, there are DOZENS of prepaid eSIMs with voice as well as data:

<https://esimdb.com/usa>

Filter to "Hide data only plans" and you get 47 plans from 6 different
providers.

In article <tufs1d$219sk$6@dont-email.me>, Alan <nuh-uh@nope.com> wrote:

> > In article <tufker$21dna$1@dont-email.me>, sms
> > <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
> >> 6. When you're visiting a foreign country, it's really helpful to have a
> >> local phone number for that country (or region), not just data.
> >
> > not really, since in most cases, nobody will be calling you on that
> > number.
>
> And also, there are DOZENS of prepaid eSIMs with voice as well as data:
>
> <https://esimdb.com/usa>
>
> Filter to "Hide data only plans" and you get 47 plans from 6 different
> providers.

yep. as usual, sms is wrong once again.

another option are international plans from one's regular carrier.
t-mobile even offers it for free with some limitations.

On 2023-03-10 00:47, nospam wrote:
> In article <tudqfg$1l791$2@dont-email.me>, sms
> <scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:
>
>> Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.
>
> yes it can, although using a tablet as a phone is quite silly.

It is not.

I was taught that possibility by a cleaning lady. Her phone (expensive)
was stolen, so she just got a duplicate SIM, put it on her tablet, and
continued life till she saved enough money to buy another phone.

It is just a matter of just having the hardware and using it when
needed. Not everybody can buy another phone at a whim.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 3/10/2023 12:39 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

<snip>

> It is just a matter of just having the hardware and using it when
> needed. Not everybody can buy another phone at a whim.

It's also an issue of just how many devices do you want to carry with
you when you're traveling.

With phones with dual physical SIMs, or when your primary carrier
supports eSIM, it's easy to have both your home country number along
with the local number from a prepaid SIM card that is not data-only.

All my recent Android tablets have cellular capability. They have the
necessary phone hardware and operating system capability to be used as a
phone when necessary.

As far as size goes, yes a tablet is larger, but not excessively so.

An iPad Mini has an 8.3" screen.
An iPhone 14 Pro Max has a 6.69" screen.

There are Android devices with up to 7.2" screens, even more if you
consider folding devices.

Here's one tablet I have with LTE:
<https://www.staples.com/product_IM19MG476>. It's not a device you'd
want to use for apps that need a high-performance processor, but it's a
great travel device for things like mapping, web-browsing, and e-mail,
and you can stick in a SIM card and use it as a phone too. Not really
interested in toting my iPad Pro around Europe!

Bottom line, it's not unreasonable at all to use a tablet for making and
receiving calls, nospam is just upset that the iPad doesn't have that
capability.

sms wrote:

> Bottom line, it's not unreasonable at all to use a tablet for making and
> receiving calls, nospam is just upset that the iPad doesn't have that
> capability.

Are you sure about that Steve?

My iPad has the free-for-life 200MB/month T-Mobile SIM card and it works as
a speakerphone in the USA to call/receive to/from POTS/cell phone numbers.
<https://i.postimg.cc/nhpbcP50/tmopromo04.jpg> iPad tablet VOIP works fine

Notice I defend Apple or I chastise Apple just as I would defend/chastise
Google based on the facts of the matter, and in doing so, I even note that
the _privacy_ on the iPad from Google Voice is better than on Android.

On Android, the instant you log into the Google Voice app, it _associates_
your login with your phone via an account _created_ on that Android device.

On iOS, that creation of an extra account on the device doesn't occur.
That's why I use Google Voice _only_ on my iOS, in fact, & not on Android.

With that said, I have a Google Voice account on the iPad, that makes and
accepts POTS/Mobile calls for free as long as I'm calling a USA number.

Given that's a fact, how can you claim the iPad can't make & receive calls?
Is it the fact it's a speakerphone that is causing you to make that claim?

In article <tug766$24dum$1@dont-email.me>, sms
<scharf.steven@geemail.com> wrote:

>
> Bottom line, it's not unreasonable at all to use a tablet for making and
> receiving calls, nospam is just upset that the iPad doesn't have that
> capability.

more of your trolling.

it's trivial to use an ipad as a phone with appropriate software.

it's just silly:
<https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e1e0f5a152c5042b72190f9e9746b50b-1920-
80.jpg>

on the other hand, i'm thrilled that that ipads have all sorts of
functionality not available with other devices, something you
deliberately neglect to mention.

In article <85hsdjxrh.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>, Carlos E.R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

> >> Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.
> >
> > yes it can, although using a tablet as a phone is quite silly.
>
> It is not.

how many people do you think are going to hold a tablet up to their
head, or out in front of them as is now common with cellphones?

<https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e1e0f5a152c5042b72190f9e9746b50b-1920-
80.jpg>

but for those who do, they can use a voip app and it can 'be used like
a phone' (his words).

> I was taught that possibility by a cleaning lady. Her phone (expensive)
> was stolen, so she just got a duplicate SIM, put it on her tablet, and
> continued life till she saved enough money to buy another phone.

it's unfortunate that her phone was stolen, but that doesn't mean the
masses are going to start using tablets as phones. they're simply not.

she could buy a cheap burner phone and swap sims. maybe a friend or
family member has a spare. i have a bunch i'm not using.

> It is just a matter of just having the hardware and using it when
> needed. Not everybody can buy another phone at a whim.

it's a matter of being optimized for a given task.

nospam wrote:

> yep. as usual, sms is wrong once again.

Hi nospam,

It's far more often that _you_ are wrong than Steve, but, I must agree with
you in this case, that Steve "seems" to have claimed iPads can't make or
receive calls, but clearly, _my_ iPad (at least with Google Voice on it),
does (and when I use a cellular enabled iPad, it does away from home too).

FACT:
*My cellular iPads do make/receive POTS/mobile calls using Google Voice.*

Yet both Steve and you often know a lot about this topic so I'm assuming
you're both right, but that can't be because Steve says it doesn't work.

So there must be something I'm missing if Steve is claiming that doesn't
work, but I will openly and readily admit you & he know this stuff better.

Can you (or Steve) please explain better what Steve's argument is?
TIA

On 2023-03-10 13:55:04 +0000, nospam said:

> how many people do you think are going to hold a tablet up to their
> head, or out in front of them as is now common with cellphones?

Does a tablet work as a phone with bluetooth so that it rings in your ear
and you can answer it from bluetooth and converse using the bluetooth mic?

In article <tug9c1$1ctc3$1@paganini.bofh.team>, Andy Burnelli
<nospam@nospam.net> wrote:

> Can you (or Steve) please explain better what Steve's argument is?

trolling

In article <tug9md$24r93$1@dont-email.me>, gtr <xxx@yyy.zzz> wrote:

>
> Does a tablet work as a phone with bluetooth so that it rings in your ear
> and you can answer it from bluetooth and converse using the bluetooth mic?

of course it does. so do laptops and desktop computers.

that doesn't mean they're ideal to be used as a phone.

On 2023-03-10 22:52, Andy Burnelli wrote:
>
> Given that's a fact, how can you claim the iPad can't make & receive calls?
> Is it the fact it's a speakerphone that is causing you to make that claim?

It is about standard mobile phone calls, not VoIP. No software to
install, it comes in the firmware.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-03-10 22:55, nospam wrote:
> In article <85hsdjxrh.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>, Carlos E.R.
> <robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:
>
>>>> Alas, an iPad can't use a regular SIM or eSIM and be used like a phone.
>>>
>>> yes it can, although using a tablet as a phone is quite silly.
>>
>> It is not.
>
> how many people do you think are going to hold a tablet up to their
> head, or out in front of them as is now common with cellphones?
>
> <https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e1e0f5a152c5042b72190f9e9746b50b-1920-
> 80.jpg>
>
> but for those who do, they can use a voip app and it can 'be used like
> a phone' (his words).
>
>> I was taught that possibility by a cleaning lady. Her phone (expensive)
>> was stolen, so she just got a duplicate SIM, put it on her tablet, and
>> continued life till she saved enough money to buy another phone.
>
> it's unfortunate that her phone was stolen, but that doesn't mean the
> masses are going to start using tablets as phones. they're simply not.
>
> she could buy a cheap burner phone and swap sims. maybe a friend or
> family member has a spare. i have a bunch i'm not using.

Why buy anything, or ask for anything, when she had a tablet ready for use?

I am not saying that the masses do it. I'm just saying that some people
do it. Enough people that some tablets come with the hardware and
firmware for it, out of the factory. My own tablet, for instance, has
it. I've never used it that way, but it has the capability.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

On 2023-03-10 13:52, Andy Burnelli wrote:
> sms wrote:
>
>> Bottom line, it's not unreasonable at all to use a tablet for making
>> and receiving calls, nospam is just upset that the iPad doesn't have
>> that capability.
>
> Are you sure about that Steve?
>
> My iPad has the free-for-life 200MB/month T-Mobile SIM card and it works as
> a speakerphone in the USA to call/receive to/from POTS/cell phone numbers.

YOUR iPad?

You HATE iPads and all things Apple.

Why in the world would you be paying not only to have one, but paying
monthly to give it extra capabilities?

In article <nkmsdjx0k4.ln2@Telcontar.valinor>, Carlos E.R.
<robin_listas@es.invalid> wrote:

>
> I am not saying that the masses do it. I'm just saying that some people
> do it.

yep, some do, but not enough for every device maker to implement it,
especially when voip apps are widely available. those who want to use
an ipad as a phone can easily do so.

> Enough people that some tablets come with the hardware and
> firmware for it, out of the factory. My own tablet, for instance, has
> it. I've never used it that way, but it has the capability.

the fact that you have never used it is key.

if your tablet *didn't* have that capability, you wouldn't be any worse
off.

meanwhile, ipads can do all sorts of things that android tablets can't
do, which are far more widely used than those who use a tablet as a
phone.

no device can do everything. pick the best tool for the job. for phone
calls, that's a phone.

Carlos E.R. wrote:

>> Given that's a fact, how can you claim the iPad can't make & receive calls?
>> Is it the fact it's a speakerphone that is causing you to make that claim?
>
> It is about standard mobile phone calls, not VoIP. No software to
> install, it comes in the firmware.

Hi Carlos,
Oh. OK. I apologize for missing that key point from Steve.
Thanks for clarifying.

I don't have a "phone" SIM in the iPad; I only have a "data" SIM.
What's interesting is that usually both Steve & nospam know this stuff.

So it's odd that they disagree if you put it that way, which is...
I guess, based on that... what will happen is...

1. If I plug my phone SIM into an Android tablet, it will make
and receive POTS/mobile calls...

2. But... if I do the same with the iPad... it won't.

Is that what Steve and nospam are arguing about?
a. Steve says it doesn't work, while
b. nospam says it does?

nospam wrote:

> no device can do everything.

Is this nospam's way of saying that Steve is right?

In article <tugep8$1deuf$1@paganini.bofh.team>, Andy Burnelli
<nospam@nospam.net> wrote:

>
> > no device can do everything.
>
> Is this nospam's way of saying that Steve is right?

no.