While lacking cellular radios for native calling, Wi-Fi-enabled tablets can still make phone calls and video chats very effectively leveraging internet connectivity. Cloud telephony apps bridge this capability gap for calling from tablet devices quite reliably today.
Do Tablets Have Native Calling Abilities?
Traditional tablets operate as primarily cellular data devices rather than phones, with some exceptions. So they don’t usually support direct phone calling or texting absent workarounds.
Data-Only Tablets
The majority of Android and iOS/iPadOS tablet models sold, like Samsung Galaxy Tabs, low-end Amazon Fire slates, and iPad series lack built-in telephony radios with subscriber identity modules (SIM cards) for authenticating phone networks.
Without this hardware, just Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, most tablets only transmit internet data like laptops rather than placing calls natively. But this limitation has solutions…
LTE Calling on Some Models
Some flagship tablets do actually contain cellular radios and SIM slots allowing true phone calling directly from the device itself using the tablet’s own phone number.
For example, premium iPad Pro variants and Microsoft Surface tablets offer optional LTE models with embedded nanoSIM trays supporting telephony and texts over cellular data networks, identically to handling calls on a smartphone.
So newer high-end tablets adopting this mobile phone hardware integrate calling abilities matching modern smartphones thanks to carriers updating networks allowing for data-based calling connectivity.
Workarounds Still Required on Most
But for the vast majority of Wi-Fi-only iPad, Fire, and Android tablets without cellular radios, third-party calling options utilizing internet connectivity provide worthwhile workarounds for adding functional telephony features.
Making Voice Calls from Tablets via Wi-Fi
While lacking native calling capacity, tablets still readily facilitate phone calls and video chat via internet-based calling options:
Cloud Telephony Service Apps
Dedicated voice over IP apps like Skype, Google Voice, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger provide free Wi-Fi tablet calling to other app users, plus often low-cost outbound calling capabilities to domestic or international phone numbers as well.
Carrier Cellular Calling Apps
Some carrier apps also enable placing calls or texts via your smartphone’s cell number remotely from a tablet by Wi-Fi tethering devices. Examples include AT&T Call Protect and Verizon Message+.
Softphone Apps
Full-featured softphone systems that assign virtual phone numbers for professional telephony use cases include options like RingCentral for robust office-oriented solutions. These integrate calling, greetings, transfers, queues, and more.
Limitations without Cellular Access
latent connection drops or audio quality issues can occur over Wi-Fi. And emergency calls don’t always function reliably from third-party apps due to regulation constraints. So cellular-native calling still holds some advantages.
But for most everyday consumer use cases, tablets sufficiently facilitate voice and video calls to supplement their primary media consumption and web browsing roles thanks to extensive cloud app options.
Top Cloud Telephony Apps for Tablet Calling
Specialized tablet apps enabling Wi-Fi based voice calls offer flexible free and paid options:
Skype
- Totally free Skype-to-Skype calls between users.
- Cheap subscription rates to call phones.
- Good for texting chat messaging as well.
- Longstanding, well-known service.
Google Voice
- Free US numbers with cheap international rates.
- Integrated voicemail transcription.
- Works directly in Gmail interface.
- Tight integration with Android.
- Popular internationally for encrypted calls and texts.
- Seamlessly continues chats from mobile.
- Video chat capacity too.
Facebook Messenger
- Leverages wider Facebook ecosystem penetration for ubiquitous access to contacts able to call and text via tablet apps or desktop interfaces.
- Strong video chat support with animated face filters and backgrounds.
RingCentral
- Robust platform with broad business features.
- Integrates reliably for office use cases.
- Video conferencing support as well.
And carrier offered Wi-Fi calling apps also facilitate connectivity directly from tablet companions. Explore all the options to see which cloud telephony solutions best fit your needs and contacts ecosystem.
Steps for Getting Started Making Tablet Calls
Utilizing various voice and video chat apps for functional phone-style communication from a tablet just takes a few configuration steps:
Install Selected App(s)
Download chosen app(s) from the App Store or Play Store on tablet device. Desktop clients also available for some services.
Set Up Accounts
Configure free or paid account subscriptions when launching apps for the first time if required. Importing existing social login credentials can help populate contacts.
Connect Device Audio
Ensure tablet speaker and microphone permissions are enabled for app accessing audio interfaces. Allow camera access for video chat capacities.
Confirm Wi-Fi Access Enabled
While some carrier tablet models include LTE, most voice apps rely on internet Wi-Fi connectivity for calling, so confirm a reliable wireless network signal available.
Place Test Call
Give an initial test call to check quality before relying extensively on tablet telephony. Fine tune app permissions, cellular assist features, or Wi-Fi boosting if needed.
Start Connecting!
Once setup, can begin freely placing calls, video chats, texts, and voicemails via interface buttons just like from a smartphone app.
If following these basics to configure selected tablet call apps correctly, most provide solid connectivity equating to an adequate mobile calling experience for casual use cases.
Key Advantages of Tablet Calling Solutions
Despite lacking native calling hardware, tablets sufficiently handle phone duties via cloud app workarounds for numerous useful benefits:
- Requires just Wi-Fi connectivity for wireless calls.
- No need to add cellular service lines or hardware.
- Seamless call handoff transitioning from smartphones.
- Bigger screens improve video chat experiences.
- Front-facing mics and cameras optimized for video calling.
- Charging stand cases prop up tablets conveniently.
- Ability to continue browsing web or apps while talking.
- Can utilize Bluetooth headsets if preferred.
Thanks to extensive app ecosystem options, tablets offer great alternatives for staying casually connected without needing full mobile network integration natively for solid call performance in many home and office environments.
Summary – Capable Tablet Telephony Now Commonplace
While cellular calling remains restricted to premium tablet models with embedded hardware radios, Wi-Fi-only tablets readily interface various voice over IP platform apps for functionally implementing consumer phone communications at little to no cost.
Well-developed services like Skype and Google Voice enable keeping in contact from tablet devices quite effectively for most general purposes thanks to steady internet broadband access in homes and businesses. Video chat performance also benefits from large higher resolution tablet screens.
And desk docks or cases letting tablets stand upright or take calls hands-free further supplement the capability to reliably utilize slates for phone duties as well. So don’t hesitate to leverage tablets as impromptu calling interfaces able to pinch hit phone replacement roles in a pinch!
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