Using a Tablet for Cellular Communications


Advantages:
 -It can offer a cheaper alternative
 -You probably are not going to pull out your tablet at a bar or restaurant
 -I buy the 2 Gigabyte/month plan through AT&T Mexico at $10/month
 -In the US I use a straighttalk SIM card and buy 1 GB/month for $15.  
 -I wanted a Samsung device without paying more for a "Smaller" Phone
 -Seems to work great internationally, changing out the SIM of course


Disadvantages:
 -People constantly asking, "Is that your phone?", but I actually enjoy this! 
 -You probably are not going to pull out your tablet at a bar or restaurant, so if socializing with people around you is a problem, you might want a phone.
 -If you really want to spend the money on unlimited calling/text/data, these plans cost much more, but are much cheaper by the Gigabyte.

My reaction to, "Is that your phone?"


So I have been using a tablet with international SIM card for the last two years (Since December of 2016).  Plane and simple, I love it.  It cuts down on my screen time since pulling a 7" tablet out in public is taboo, but when I do need a device, I have come to prefer Samsung.

It also integrates very well with my computer.  As an engineer/writer/product developer I spend a lot of time at the computer.  Because I have adapted to using Skype and Google Voice I don't need to pay attention to the tablet when I working away.

Skype, so I use Skype for making voice calls.  Since I seldom call people outside the USA without using Whatsapp, or another service, I just get the USA unlimited calling plan with voicemail for $2.99 per month.  Since this is a technology offering, I don't expect the prices to change anytime soon, since Microsoft should be making more money over time if they manage the product properly. 

Google Voice is free and necessary if you want to include free texting.  Skype does offer outbound texting for a fee, but the problem with this, is that you cannot receive a text back.  I would gladly pay the fee and just use texting as needed, but seeing how this is not an option, lets talk about google voice.

Google Voice is pretty fantastic.  It allows you to open your texts in a browser window, and has allowed a frugal person such as myself to text again.  Since texting is so popular, it is a must unless you want to be socially outcasted.   

Whatsapp seems super popular internationally.  I use it when I am in Mexico and Japan, and obviously this integrates very well with a tablet, so you will be covered when using your tablet.  I am using a my Google Voice number as my main number for Whatsapp, and it is also the number that appears when I make outbound calls through Skype.  This has helped to save a great deal of confusion with people.

I have attached the links to the tablet that I am currently using.  It is fantastic, using an AT&T SIM card.  Any questions, please ask.  I will probably try to get another year or two out of this tablet before looking into a new one.  Who knows, maybe they will be graphene by then, and I can just get an expandable phone!  Thank you for reading!


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