Tablets that can be used like a phone

also just because samsung has offer certain services on their devices does not meant that we are locked into using them just because its their product on their device. example; samsung internet is simply another browser that comes preinstalled as an app and the same as chrome or firefox or edge. we have options when it comes to the app we choose to use to message with, whether it be a preinstalled message app or messenger another app provided by facebook and just because google offers voice service it is an internet service not a cellular voice service. to be a true phone with voice does not mean just an dialing pad app from playstore or marketplace or galaxy store or wherever you can get apps at it is a built in part of a device.

and im not sure how a device that was built in 2019 could be debunked decades ago unless 2019 was 20 years ago

btfojeff@yahoo.com wrote:

and samsung has nothing to do with provisioning sim cards for voice or data capabilities that is what the carriers provide, depending on the plan they offer and not all carriers are offering the same plan there are endless variety of plans from countless carriers that can we can choose from. we are not forced to choose from just the top carriers and their expensive plans or devices.

so since TMO still isnt allowing this...which other carrier allows this to happen?

you might want to change your screen name away from your email since this is a fully public site and everyone and their mom can now send you a bunch of bunk junk mail etc..there is a thread floating around in here for getting your screen name changed or you can contact TMO Mike in this thread to see if he can help with getting it changed.

btfojeff@yahoo.com wrote:

samsung galaxy tab a 8 (2019) comes in 3 different models. model SM-T295 most certainly has a dedicated phone number attatched in the hardware not an app! the other 2 do not check it.

Just because it has a phone number associated doesn't mean it is provisioned BY the manufacturers for phone calls.  All carriers use "phone numbers" for each line for logistics purposes not just specifically for phone calls.  This has been a thing long before Tablets, and wearables became a thing.

btfojeff@yahoo.com wrote:

and samsung has nothing to do with provisioning sim cards for voice or data capabilities that is what the carriers provide, depending on the plan they offer and not all carriers are offering the same plan there are endless variety of plans from countless carriers that can we can choose from. we are not forced to choose from just the top carriers and their expensive plans or devices.

You are mistaken.  At the software level OEMs have full  control unlike people think they do not.  We are not talking about the days of BREW and carriers actually doing to coding.  If Samsung gave source codes to carriers trust me we would have it by now, but we don't because OEMs do all the coding and have it under lock and key.

btfojeff@yahoo.com wrote:

also just because samsung has offer certain services on their devices does not meant that we are locked into using them just because its their product on their device. example; samsung internet is simply another browser that comes preinstalled as an app and the same as chrome or firefox or edge. we have options when it comes to the app we choose to use to message with, whether it be a preinstalled message app or messenger another app provided by facebook and just because google offers voice service it is an internet service not a cellular voice service. to be a true phone with voice does not mean just an dialing pad app from playstore or marketplace or galaxy store or wherever you can get apps at it is a built in part of a device.

It's what they want.  That's what they code for.  If you have a problem with it take it up with them.  As they specifically pointed out Tabs can't make phones calls all around the world not just in the USA, but you can use their built in service if you have their phone.  Their own knowledge base says exactly this.  

Also as I pointed out with the unlocked Note 10.1 cellular version it could make phone calls with ANY GSM carrier.  If there is no provision for it that's total BS as it still works to this day.  Samsung removed the ability on their own worldwide and forces you to use their service or pick a VOIP service.

tidbits wrote:

Also as I pointed out with the unlocked Note 10.1 cellular version it could make phone calls with ANY GSM carrier.  If there is no provision for it that's total BS as it still works to this day.  Samsung removed the ability on their own worldwide and forces you to use their service or pick a VOIP service.

I apologize. I will let you believe whatever you want, it really doesnt matter. My tablet does what I need it to and that is what matters to me. But thanks for your throughput anyway, it was virtually useless. To that an End. As you were.

btfojeff@yahoo.com wrote:

tidbits wrote:

Also as I pointed out with the unlocked Note 10.1 cellular version it could make phone calls with ANY GSM carrier.  If there is no provision for it that's total BS as it still works to this day.  Samsung removed the ability on their own worldwide and forces you to use their service or pick a VOIP service.

I apologize. I will let you believe whatever you want, it really doesnt matter. My tablet does what I need it to and that is what matters to me. But thanks for your throughput anyway, it was virtually useless. To that an End. As you were.

Just for reference. I was a developer for Sony Mobile for over a decade. Also my brother works for Samsung in Korea as a developer as well. 

Look up Note 10.1. Not the recently released 10 or 10.1. It came out after the Note 3 and before the Note 4. It was unlocked and made phone calls. When the Note 4 was released Samsung removed phone app for all their tablets going forward. See below as to why. People have sideloaded or even tried coding in phone calling capabilities,  but have failed. There's a simple reason why it has failed and has nothing to do with carriers and tin foil conspiracies. It has to do with profits. Android is not 100% open source. There are proprietary bits that are needed. You need licensing and also testing which cost $$$ and time. Check out the licensing for your tablet and see if the FCC approved it for calling. No? Well Samsung didn't run it through so it will never get that ability. That's why the proprietary bits will not be found because they don't have any intention on it working or spending money to give that feature. 

Another example Nexus 4 with 4G and Google removing the proprietary bits to make it stop working because of no licensing. They could have just ran it through. It was cheaper for them to remove the bits and keep the price point as cheap as they had it. 

You can always import one that has that ability and make phone calls but keep in mind the frequency support might not line up because it isn't intended for our market. My car has a radio that has a sim port from Singapore and I have my digits sim in it. I can make phone calls surf the web and such, but only at 2G. When T-Mobile retires 2G in my area those features will stop working. 

I had a separate digits line data only as one of the posters mentioned and i ended up converting that to another straight line fo the same pice and gave it to a member of my family.. I still wanted to use my tablet as a phone so here is what I ended up doing.

I purchased an iPad and I purchased unlimited data with it.

On the IPad I downloaded the tmobile digits app.

I purchased a pair of wireless ear buds.

My cell phone with the SIM is home and turned off and i use the ipad to make and receive calls.

I do have some issues with text - I can text anyone --I do not receive all texts paricularly short codes.