App Turns an iPad 3G into a Giant iPhone
When the iPad first came out, some critics accused the device of being just a big iPhone that couldn’t make phone calls. Two years later, that phone call thing has been addressed by a new app that claims to turn any iPad 3G into basically a giant iPhone. The app is called PhoneItiPad and it’s capable of making phone calls, sending SMS, using FaceTime by phone numbers, and achieving everything else you’d expect to perform on an iPhone.
Although there is no release date set, the developers at iPhoneIslam say it will be available soon from the Cydia store, meaning you will have to jailbreak your iPad to download the app.
Is this useful? You’ll have to decide that, but I can imagine situations where you’d want to send a text or make a quick phone call from an iPad instead of whipping out a phone. Even if you don’t think this has any practical use, you have to admit it’s an impressive hack, and this is exactly why Apple won’t ever completely kill jailbreaking even if they match many of the other benefits.
Get a Samsung Galaxy Tab instead, just insert any network SIM, no need to install app and micro cut your SIM
Besides Google Talk, Skype, and Tango (Which I love as well) that had some limits when they first came out, like only being able to use the app over WiFi and not 3G, with the exception of Tango. There is also an app available in the app store (That you dont have to jailbreak your device to use) that has been around for a long time and not many people have heard of it. It’s called Whistle, you can use to make and receive calls over the internet. It also has a lot of other features like 2 Lines, call waiting, 3 way calling (Conference Calls), Caller ID, you can access your local contacts to make calls or just dial a number, A feature called follow me where you can list up to 5 numbers if you don’t answer the device it’s registered on, it will ring on each number in the order you listed them. You get free calling as long as it is throughout the USA, the only catch is you have to listen to an 10 to 15 second ad when you make a call. Inbound calls, ring directly to your device no ads. Or you can pay a fee to not hear the ads. You get your own number (For Free) including one that has the same area code that you live in or near from. (In most places. But, they are getting more everyday) It works over 3G or WiFi, works on the iPad and iPhone. The only downside to this app is you can’t do video calling like Skype and Tango. Though, they just recently have put a limit on on how long you can talk for free since the number of users has grown so much. All and all it is a pretty cool app to have and works pretty well. The only thing I don’t like is the pricing if you want to pay for minutes is a little to high. I have been using the free version ever since I got my first iPad 1 3G+WiFi and now my iPad 2 3G+WiFi. But, I would have to say the 2 apps I love the most now are Tango and Skype, I use this as a backup phone. Since you have to pay for a phone number with Skype for people to call you from a landline, where with Whistle you don’t. You can make and receive calls from any number landline or not.
Check it out and see what you think. Here is the link for the app:
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/whistle-phone/id322326573?mt=8&ls=1
Now with this app, to be able to use your iPad like an iPhone to make and receive calls using your cellular plan is pretty awesome! And to top it off, it has the same look and feel as an iPhone too. Can’t wait to see how it works and wonder if there will be any catches.
If it has 3G, why not be able to make phone calls? You can always use Skype too.
Ahh, I know how they did it! They must have taken the Phone app from an iPhone and installed it on the iPad. Then, they insert the SIM with a calling plan into the iPad.
Very clever. I was skeptical until it actually made the phone call and you could hear the audio feedback.