XPost: comp.mobile.android, misc.phone.mobile.iphone   
   From: scharf.steven@geemail.com   
      
   On 3/10/2023 2:09 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:   
   > 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.   
      
   Correct. While you can use an iPad with Google Voice, or one of the VOIP   
   based services like TextNow (or the old Unreal Mobile or FreedomPop   
   mobile), it's not the same as a phone with a native dialer.   
      
   Not sure if other parts of the world ever had services like Unreal   
   Mobile or FreedomPop where the native dialer on the phone was not used   
   and everything was VOIP via an app. Those SIM cards were essentially   
   "data-only" but you were provided with a U.S. phone number.   
      
   In the other thread, that's what the person on Reddit was looking for   
   for his cellular iPad, but he really wanted an eSIM with that   
   capability, and I don't think that there is any such animal.   
      
   Of course you can buy VOIP service and use it with an eSIM.   
      
   Google Voice is great but for a visitor to the U.S., unless you know   
   someone to help you out, it's a bit difficult to sign up. What I would   
   do is to buy a $2 Mint SIM with a 7 day free trial (Target or Best Buy)   
   in order to obtain a U.S. phone number. Then I would set up Google Voice   
   using that phone number as a forwarding number but use only the Google   
   Voice app on the phone or tablet to make and receive calls. In that way   
   you could use a data-only eSIM.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)