Calls and SMS on tablets
antonindvorak
Enthusiast - Level 3

When can we expect verizon to catch up with Europe, China, India, etc. by giving us a tablet that allows regular voice calls and SMS without resorting to Message+ and "advanced calling".  Isn't this America, the leading nation in the world? Get with the program verizon.  Allow the manufacturers of verizon-compatible tablets to build tablets with the hardware and software necessary for SMS and voice calls.  We have the technology!  It's already inside of every verizon-compatible phone currently available for sale at verizonwireless.com.  Put it in the tablets.

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Re: Calls and SMS on tablets
dimap52
Specialist - Level 1

No American carrier allows circuit-switched (GSM, CDMA) calls/sms on tablets through a phone dialer. You can thank the 'business model' for that. On the capped data plans, they charge #20 access fee for 'phones' which allow gsm/cdma calls and  $10 access fee for 'internet devices' that don't. So when tablets first appeared, they ripped the phone dialers out even though they were perfectly fine elsewhere in the world.

This is why we don't have embedded LTE modems in laptops and tablets sold a retail stores either. Extra access fees people just don't want to pay, whereas elsewhere if your laptop or tablet has a cell modem in it, the carriers abroad don't charge extra 'access fees' for service. They just give you another SIM for your device and you are good to go.

Oh, and thy also have Net Neutrality, whereas WE, OTH, are about to lose ours, thanks to a former Verizon lawyer heading up the new FCC and who is clearly beholden to the 'business model'.

I think this will become less of an issue as the carriers transition to an all-IP network and services like VoLTE become universal. Then every device will have a nice big fat access fee to connect. On the unlimited plan, tablets are ALREADY $20 now. even WITHOUT circuit-switched dialing.

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Re: Calls and SMS on tablets
dimap52
Specialist - Level 1

No American carrier allows circuit-switched (GSM, CDMA) calls/sms on tablets through a phone dialer. You can thank the 'business model' for that. On the capped data plans, they charge #20 access fee for 'phones' which allow gsm/cdma calls and  $10 access fee for 'internet devices' that don't. So when tablets first appeared, they ripped the phone dialers out even though they were perfectly fine elsewhere in the world.

This is why we don't have embedded LTE modems in laptops and tablets sold a retail stores either. Extra access fees people just don't want to pay, whereas elsewhere if your laptop or tablet has a cell modem in it, the carriers abroad don't charge extra 'access fees' for service. They just give you another SIM for your device and you are good to go.

Oh, and thy also have Net Neutrality, whereas WE, OTH, are about to lose ours, thanks to a former Verizon lawyer heading up the new FCC and who is clearly beholden to the 'business model'.

I think this will become less of an issue as the carriers transition to an all-IP network and services like VoLTE become universal. Then every device will have a nice big fat access fee to connect. On the unlimited plan, tablets are ALREADY $20 now. even WITHOUT circuit-switched dialing.