• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Can I use SIM+Wifi?

D

Deleted User

Guest
So I'm thinking of buying a Nexus 7.

There's 2 versions, the difference is that one supports SIM cards and has more space than the other. I'm unsure if I'll need the space (never had a smartphone or a tablet before, but as far as I'm concerned, it'd mainly be used for movies, and I'm not gonna watch many movies on it). However my current phone really sucks (think more than a half decade old low-quality at the time phone). Therefore, I'd like to use this tablet not only for the organizer, browsing, writing, emailing, but also for writing short messages and making calls.

Is it possible to use it with both a SIM card and a wifi connection so I could do what I've described above? Definitely not going to pay for GSM (or how it's called...) connection, prices are insane.

If something's unclear, please ask!

Thanks!
 
argedion said:
Welcome to the forums :) We're glad your here.

The only thing I know about making phone calls from the nexus can be found in this thread:

http://androidforums.com/nexus-7/652733-you-can-make-phone-calls-your-nexus-7-a.html

I have just a plain wifi nexus and no sim so not going to be any more of a help at this point.
Click to expand...

Thank you!

Well, that didn't help much, if at all, though I appreciate the link. Reason is because I live in Europe, and Google Voice is for US citizens only. What I meant to ask here, is can I call using my SIM card number? I.e. I have the sim card in my oldie phone at the moment.
 
andrdude said:
Thank you!

Well, that didn't help much, if at all, though I appreciate the link. Reason is because I live in Europe, and Google Voice is for US citizens only. What I meant to ask here, is can I call using my SIM card number? I.e. I have the sim card in my oldie phone at the moment.
Click to expand...

Out of the box, the N7 doesn't have a phone app so you can't make calls with it that way. I think there are custom ROMs which have a phone and message app, but that would mean rooting it etc. Is that an option?

As far as I'm aware, some of the Galaxy Tab series allow you to make calls. Are you dead set on the N7?
 
El Presidente said:
Out of the box, the N7 doesn't have a phone app so you can't make calls with it that way. I think there are custom ROMs which have a phone and message app, but that would mean rooting it etc. Is that an option?

As far as I'm aware, some of the Galaxy Tab series allow you to make calls. Are you dead set on the N7?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what "rooting" is, did you mean "routing?" I think my phone's able to re-route the calls, not sure if it's free service or not. If you didn't mean that, please explain. I'm relatively new to phone tech.

As far as I've read, Galaxy Tab series offer significantly less resources (are significantly slower), starting with having a dual/quad-core CPU. I.e. the menus feel laggy, etc., and I can't stand slowness in general, and especially when it comes to my technical devices, not to mention that I'm gonna be using this thing at least a few hours a day. And I'll be using the thing to write, post articles on sites (using Wordpress to be exact), doing lots of reading (so need a good screen with non-blurry text), some video watching, maybe music using the headphones, chatting, lots of emailing, using some sort of an organizer.

That said, no, I'm not set on Nexus, however I'm set on the price range. Nexus 7 GSM is as far as I can go (use the price as the milestone, I bet it's different in Europe). Beforehand, I was looking for a laptop with Windows 8 (love the OS + there's much better software for Windows, especially the organizer, MS Office and personal text/code editor), but a decent one costs about 4 times more, and the bare minimum that I would consider buying goes for 2-2.5 times more. So yea, settled on a tablet instead.
 
No, I meant rooting. :)

It grants you Super User access, similar to the Admin account on your PC and (amongst other things) will allow you to install alternative Custom OS's with additional features, apps etc. It's a relatively painless process and whilst it would technically void the warranty, returning it to stock is easy.

I can't argue with the price point, I paid
 
El Presidente said:
No, I meant rooting. :)

It grants you Super User access, similar to the Admin account on your PC and (amongst other things) will allow you to install alternative Custom OS's with additional features, apps etc. It's a relatively painless process and whilst it would technically void the warranty, returning it to stock is easy.

I can't argue with the price point, I paid
Click to expand...
 
andrdude said:
That's not a problem both from technical and moral side. I'm good with computers, even work as the guy who fixes them, just started my career, that's the reason why I can't afford anything better (yet!) too, by the way.

I wonder if it'd be possible to install Windows 8 to it. The specs would definitely hold it (or so I believe), and if it breaks - you said it's easy to revert the process, so that's not a big problem too, unless something gets fried and I can't turn it on.

That'd be awesome for my needs, which are quite unique compared to most of what I've read around various forums. The only thing I do but couldn't do is video/image editing! :D
Click to expand...

The most significant issue with Windows 8 would be the fact that its proprietary and not free. Its not impossible, since I learned that someone got Windows RT (which is the most likely candidate for the Nexus 7 if anything) to run on the HTC HD2, which original ran Windows Mobile 6.5 in 2009. But that's because that device is so well documented and open. I'm not sure how open the Nexus 7 is from a hardware standpoint either. Android-wise, its open, but I'm not sure about alternative OS's, considering you would need the drivers, etc.

HTC HD2 Refuses to Die, Now Runs Windows RT – xda-developers
 
Demache said:
The most significant issue with Windows 8 would be the fact that its proprietary and not free. Its not impossible, since I learned that someone got Windows RT (which is the most likely candidate for the Nexus 7 if anything) to run on the HTC HD2, which original ran Windows Mobile 6.5 in 2009. But that's because that device is so well documented and open. I'm not sure how open the Nexus 7 is from a hardware standpoint either. Android-wise, its open, but I'm not sure about alternative OS's, considering you would need the drivers, etc.

HTC HD2 Refuses to Die, Now Runs Windows RT – xda-developers
Click to expand...

That's pretty cool!

Anyway, back to topic: assuming I'd use Android, as far as I'm concerned, there's some pretty decent choices from the applications. Yet I'm concerned about making calls too, as it'd be an awesome feature for my needs.

By the way, can I connect a GSM modem and use the net if I pick the non-3G version? It's much cheaper anyway.
 
andrdude said:
That's pretty cool!

Anyway, back to topic: assuming I'd use Android, as far as I'm concerned, there's some pretty decent choices from the applications. Yet I'm concerned about making calls too, as it'd be an awesome feature for my needs.

By the way, can I connect a GSM modem and use the net if I pick the non-3G version? It's much cheaper anyway.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, no. GSM USB modems often need drivers and software that the Nexus 7 most likely can't use. I wouldn't be shocked if someone got it to work, but I wouldn't hold your breath. A portable Wifi hotspot device will work though.

So if you think you'll use the 3G feature, see if you can get a wifi hotspot device (wouldn't help with phone calls unless you want to use VoIP). Otherwise, stick to the official 3G version. Which may be best if you want to make calls anyway.
 
Demache said:
As far as I know, no. GSM USB modems often need drivers and software that the Nexus 7 most likely can't use. I wouldn't be shocked if someone got it to work, but I wouldn't hold your breath. A portable Wifi hotspot device will work though.

So if you think you'll use the 3G feature, see if you can get a wifi hotspot device (wouldn't help with phone calls unless you want to use VoIP). Otherwise, stick to the official 3G version. Which may be best if you want to make calls anyway.
Click to expand...

Well, with 3G I can't make calls unless I pay insane amounts of money (say Skype), the rates are 3 times as high as the ones of the provider I'm using with my cellphone right now.

And I can make VoIP calls without the 3G version anyway.

Still not convinced that I should pay extra for the 3G version.

Thanks for input though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom