Add a line for iPad?

[Rafagon]

Hi, sorry if this is common knowledge, but I don't own an iPad, so I don't know. I got an email from AT&T today suggesting that the iPad 2 is the perfect reason to add a line. When you have a 3G iPad, do you get a phone number on the data line, even if the iPad can't make phone calls? Why do they want you to add a line, if they aren't going to subsidize the cost of the iPad? I'm sure there's a simple answer.

It goes on to say that "Getting an iPad® 2 is easy when you add a line of service with a qualifying data plan.

Limited-Time Offer." How is it easier than simply getting that same iPad 2 and not adding the data plan?




Sent from my alphanumeric pager.

 

[Brett123]

Nope, no phone number, the line just entitles it to use 3G data. It requires a monthly payment just like a regular phone.

 

[iHolophyte]

There are two types of iPad. Wifi and wifi with sim. The second will be yours to allow phone calls.


iHolophyte

 

[Brett123]

There are two types of iPad. Wifi and wifi with sim. The second will be yours to allow phone calls.


iHolophyte

You can't make phone calls on the iPad without a 3rd party app. The 3G iPad doesn't have a phone app.

 

[iHolophyte]

You can't make phone calls on the iPad without a 3rd party app. The 3G iPad doesn't have a phone app.

Why does it have a sim then? (I'm in the UK...Maybe different)


iHolophyte

 

[Brett123]

Why does it have a sim then? (I'm in the UK...Maybe different)


iHolophyte

From Wirefly.com

A SIM carries the account information for your phone, and it also has room to carry your contact list and some text messages. If you have a cell phone plan that lets you make unlimited phone calls and texts, that information is carried on your SIM. If you put your SIM into a compatible phone, you can make phone calls and texts from that phone. If you’re old phone dies, you can buy a new phone and swap the SIM into it, and your new phone is instantly operational and activated.
SIMs can carry the account information for any type of account, so you can have a full-blown unlimited data plan for your smartphone, and that information will be on the SIM. Swap the SIM into a different smartphone and the new phone immediately has access to your plan.

The point is, the iPad doesn't have a cell phone plan, nor can it utilize one. Check what I bolded above. Plus, without a dedicated app for making phone calls, you can't make them. The iPad doesn't have a stock phone app so you'd need to download a calling app from the App Store. Sure, it can make phone calls, but not without a third party app to do so.

 

[iHolophyte]

From Wirefly.com



The point is, the iPad doesn't have a cell phone plan, nor can it utilize one. Check what I bolded above. Plus, without a dedicated app for making phone calls, you can't make them. The iPad doesn't have a stock phone app so you'd need to download a calling app from the App Store. Sure, it can make phone calls, but not without a third party app to do so.

Thanks for the information. Appreciated


iHolophyte

 

[Brett123]

No problem.

 

[Rafagon]

Nope, no phone number, the line just entitles it to use 3G data. It requires a monthly payment just like a regular phone.

Thank you very much. I noticed you mentioned above that with a third-party app you can make phone calls on the iPad? Would those be VoIP calls or regular calls like on an iPhone?




Sent from my alphanumeric pager.

 

[Europa]

Thank you very much. I noticed you mentioned above that with a third-party app you can make phone calls on the iPad? Would those be VoIP calls or regular calls like on an iPhone?

VoIP. It can't do cellular calls. The 3G connection is for data/internet.

 

[iHolophyte]

VoIP. It can't do cellular calls. The 3G connection is for data/internet.

Ahhhh, yes I remember now. The sales person saying wifi only you need wifi spots, with a sim you can use 3G. And I thought I ain't walking around the street with one of these in my hand, my iPhones good enough for that, so chose the wifi only. Now Europa mentioned it, it all came back! Thanks Europa.


iHolophyte