IPAD AIR and text messaging.

Soldato
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19 Dec 2010
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Ok, A friend of mine has bought a new Ipad air that you can insert a sim into.

But, you can't make calls or send or receive texts. Of course he came to me after he bought it wondering was it broke. He was a bit disappointed when I told him that the sim in the Ipad was data only.

He asked me was there good apps for sending texts. He has a number on the sim that he would like to keep and would like, if possible that the text comes from that number.

I don't use any apple products myself, so am not really sure which App would be best for him to use. I did a quick look and found mention of one app that let you send texts using your providers free webtexts. It seemed like a great app, but, I couldn't find it anywhere and found out that it's not available anymore.

The other apps that I have found all seem to be for the American market. They have everything he needs and would be perfect, if he was sending texts to Canada or USA :p

Can anyone tell me if what the guy is looking for is impossible or not? Or can you recommend some apps that you use for texting on the ipad? Preferably an app that doesn't require the other person to have the same app installed.
 
Technically, Skype doesn't use the SIM card's own number. All it does is masquerade as you via their external servers with the mobile number you've attached to your Skype profile.

Correct. Also who buys an ipad to text and make calls lol? You would look like a retard with that 10" screen against your face.
 
Yep! Although the way it works I imagine you need an iOS Phone within close proximity to the iPad. I wonder will they finally allow native text messaging from cellular ipads? They can't really enable that though without enabling voice too, can they?


I'm really looking foward to being able to type and send text messages from my Mac with OSX Yosemite & iOS8 <3

It's going to do wonders to my workflow being able to type and edit them faster than on a touch device.
 
Continuity uses your iPhone to send the SMS, it has to be on the same Wi-Fi network.

With a Mac, a USB headset and an iPhone you don't need a desk phone any more.
 
But, you can't make calls or send or receive texts. Of course he came to me after he bought it wondering was it broke. He was a bit disappointed when I told him that the sim in the Ipad was data only

Did your mate really fork out hundreds of pounds for a cellular iPad Air and not do *any* research into what the cellular bit is for?
 
Did your mate really fork out hundreds of pounds for a cellular iPad Air and not do *any* research into what the cellular bit is for?

He isn't really very technical, but loves gadgets. And it was my fault really, he came to me looking for an tablet that you can put a sim into. He wanted an ipad most since he has an iPhone. I presumed he was just looking for a sim version to have access for data when not in range of any wifi. And before you ask, he didn't want tethering either.

It wasn't until the Ipad arrived and he started using it that I realised he wanted texts as well.

I know you can't send SMS messages from the ipad, but, there are apps available that get around that, but they only work for USA/Canadian numbers, not free for other numbers. That's why I asked here, to see was there anything that worked for British and Irish numbers for free.
 
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