I really want to get rid of my phone

StoryEnthusiast · 08-02-2012, 07:43 PM

These days I find myself using my Android phone mostly for SMS. There are weeks when I don't even make or receive a call. So I'm seriously considering a 7" tablet and throw away the phone if the tablet can handle SMS as well. Is there any tablet on the market that does SMS as well?

MikeOxlittle · 08-02-2012, 08:00 PM

As soon as you get rid of the phone, you're going to need to make a call or will miss an important one.

Keep the phone.

StoryEnthusiast · 08-02-2012, 08:04 PM

I plan to handle calls using Skype, so I don't really need a dedicated phone.

BeccaPrice · 08-02-2012, 08:07 PM

You can only use Skype if you've got wifi - and I don't believe it will do you any good if your car breaks down. That's one reason we got our kids phones, because they'd be out driving after dark... and yes, I've had to go rescue them when their car had a major flat as they were on their way to school, or on a deserted road.

you may only want a cheap phone with renewable minutes, but really, sometimes there are emergencies, and only a phone will do.

StoryEnthusiast · 08-02-2012, 08:12 PM

Thanks for the advice regarding phone's use in emergencies. OK, I'll keep a cheap phone. But the question is, can tablets handle SMS?

Actually, I like Samsung Note but it's too expensive. If its price drops below US$200, then it will be a good choice for me.

elemenoP · 08-02-2012, 09:18 PM

I thought SMS is only mobile to mobile? If you had an ipad, you could send an "SMS" to other iphone users using iMessage, and I imagine Android has something similar? (I don't actually know). But to send an SMS to any mobile phone... I think you need a mobile phone? I did a (very) brief search and I see there are apps that let you get SMS messages on your phone AND your tablet at the same time, but without a phone, what number would the SMS go to?

eP

WritePR · 08-03-2012, 01:15 AM

No. Tablets aren't phones. Only mobile phones do SMS.

StoryEnthusiast · 08-03-2012, 01:25 AM

I'm hoping (or dreaming) tablets will also expand to include phone function when you insert a SIM card.

Kumabjorn · 08-03-2012, 03:52 AM

Many tablets take SIM cards.
If you only want SMS function there are lots of apps for that, Hancent is one of the more popular.

kennyc · 08-03-2012, 07:18 AM

Even my Xoom tables with 4G LTE doesn't do SMS (at least not in the same manner) as a phone. So No, I don't think what you are wanting is available.

My new Samsung Galaxy SIII though is almost a small tablet. Love that big screen it has!

StoryEnthusiast · 08-03-2012, 07:21 AM

Maybe few more years to wait until the likes of Samsung Note come out at less than $200.

RHWright · 08-03-2012, 01:15 PM

I keep wondering when they'll start offering "phones" with emergency-only phone minutes, but with plenty of messaging and data. I don't come anywhere near my 550 minutes of talk per month.

Can't wait for AT&T to force me into the shared data with "unlimited" talk. Just what I need! Now if they'd just come down on the data plans...

AndrewH · 08-03-2012, 01:51 PM

I'd think with any web-capable device you'd be able to use Google Voice for texting.

ghostyjack · 08-03-2012, 01:52 PM

Well I've got the original Galaxy Tab and it handles SMS perfectly fine.

But then I do have a SIM in it.

If you are going to be Wifi-only, then I thing you need some form of IM client.

Just remembered, my Tab works fine on the built-in Google Chat when on Wifi, or 3G for that matter.

RainingLemur · 08-03-2012, 01:53 PM

If you NEED a phone, just get one of those crummy pre-paid things to keep around.

08-02-2012, 07:43 PM	#1
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	I really want to get rid of my phone These days I find myself using my Android phone mostly for SMS. There are weeks when I don't even make or receive a call. So I'm seriously considering a 7" tablet and throw away the phone if the tablet can handle SMS as well. Is there any tablet on the market that does SMS as well?

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08-02-2012, 08:00 PM	#2
MikeOxlittle Say my name very fast ... Posts: 131 Karma: 1387009 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: The High Seas Device: Kindle	As soon as you get rid of the phone, you're going to need to make a call or will miss an important one. Keep the phone.

08-02-2012, 08:04 PM	#3
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	I plan to handle calls using Skype, so I don't really need a dedicated phone.

08-02-2012, 08:07 PM	#4
BeccaPrice Wizard Posts: 2,146 Karma: 11174187 Join Date: Jan 2011 Device: Sony 350, K3-3G, K4SO, KPW	You can only use Skype if you've got wifi - and I don't believe it will do you any good if your car breaks down. That's one reason we got our kids phones, because they'd be out driving after dark... and yes, I've had to go rescue them when their car had a major flat as they were on their way to school, or on a deserted road. you may only want a cheap phone with renewable minutes, but really, sometimes there are emergencies, and only a phone will do.

08-02-2012, 08:12 PM	#5
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	Thanks for the advice regarding phone's use in emergencies. OK, I'll keep a cheap phone. But the question is, can tablets handle SMS? Actually, I like Samsung Note but it's too expensive. If its price drops below US$200, then it will be a good choice for me.

08-02-2012, 09:18 PM	#6
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I thought SMS is only mobile to mobile? If you had an ipad, you could send an "SMS" to other iphone users using iMessage, and I imagine Android has something similar? (I don't actually know). But to send an SMS to any mobile phone... I think you need a mobile phone? I did a (very) brief search and I see there are apps that let you get SMS messages on your phone AND your tablet at the same time, but without a phone, what number would the SMS go to? eP

08-03-2012, 01:15 AM	#7
WritePR Gadget Girl/Avid Reader Posts: 51 Karma: 927026 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: East Coast, USA Device: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Nook Color, Kindle Touch	No. Tablets aren't phones. Only mobile phones do SMS.

08-03-2012, 01:25 AM	#8
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	I'm hoping (or dreaming) tablets will also expand to include phone function when you insert a SIM card.

08-03-2012, 03:52 AM	#9
Kumabjorn Basculocolpic Posts: 4,356 Karma: 20181319 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sweden Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Kindle 4SO, Kindle for Android, Sony PRS-350 and PRS-T1	Many tablets take SIM cards. If you only want SMS function there are lots of apps for that, Hancent is one of the more popular.

08-03-2012, 07:18 AM	#10
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Even my Xoom tables with 4G LTE doesn't do SMS (at least not in the same manner) as a phone. So No, I don't think what you are wanting is available. My new Samsung Galaxy SIII though is almost a small tablet. Love that big screen it has!

08-03-2012, 07:21 AM	#11
StoryEnthusiast K. C. Lee Posts: 584 Karma: 3652522 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: New Zealand Device: Android phone	Maybe few more years to wait until the likes of Samsung Note come out at less than $200.

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08-03-2012, 01:15 PM	#12
RHWright Addict Posts: 219 Karma: 2617122 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: North Carolina Device: NOOK ST, Nexus 7	I keep wondering when they'll start offering "phones" with emergency-only phone minutes, but with plenty of messaging and data. I don't come anywhere near my 550 minutes of talk per month. Can't wait for AT&T to force me into the shared data with "unlimited" talk. Just what I need! Now if they'd just come down on the data plans...

08-03-2012, 01:51 PM	#13
AndrewH Fanatic Posts: 553 Karma: 1234566 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Vancouver, WA Device: Sony PRS-T1, & Kobo Mini	I'd think with any web-capable device you'd be able to use Google Voice for texting.

08-03-2012, 01:52 PM	#14
ghostyjack Guru Posts: 718 Karma: 1085610 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, England Device: PRS-T1, 1825PT, Galaxy Tab, One X, TF700T, Aura HD, Nexus 7	Well I've got the original Galaxy Tab and it handles SMS perfectly fine. But then I do have a SIM in it. If you are going to be Wifi-only, then I thing you need some form of IM client. Just remembered, my Tab works fine on the built-in Google Chat when on Wifi, or 3G for that matter.

08-03-2012, 01:53 PM	#15
RainingLemur Spork Connoisseur Posts: 2,355 Karma: 16780603 Join Date: Mar 2011 Device: Nook Color	If you NEED a phone, just get one of those crummy pre-paid things to keep around.