How to make calls from Tablet?
Have you ever wondered if tablets are capable of making phone calls? Tablet users are often asking, ‘How do I make phone calls on my tablet’. This article will explain the phone-calling capabilities of tablets and how to make calls from tablet.
Since most tablets don’t support traditional cellular voice calls, to use your tablet as a phone all you need is a third-party calling app that makes use of Voice over IP (VoIP) technology and a pair of headphones. The former lets your tablet make a phone call and the latter helps you to avoid holding your 10-inch or so tablet to your ear. Following are some of the popular third-party calling apps you can use on your tablet to make and receive calls over the Internet.
FaceTime (for Apple devices): Apple’s FaceTime app makes it easy to make video calls on an iPhone or iPad over WiFi or cellular data.
Skype: You can use the Skype app to call or message any Skype user for free using your iPad, Kindle Fire HD, Android, or Windows tablet.
Google Voice: Google Voice allows for very high-quality VOIP calls. This service is good and very similar to Skype, with free calls to other Google Voice users.
Let’s now see how to make phone calls with tablet.
How to make phone calls from tablet iPad
iPad users are often asking- can I make a call from my tablet?
To make phone calls from tablet iPad, you will need an iPhone as well and you’ll first need to configure a few settings on the iPhone and iPad. After those configurations are set, making phone calls from the iPad will be easy. To make a phone call from an iPad first, you need to ensure that,
1. Both your iPhone and iPad are updated to iOS 8.1 or later;
2. Your iPad and iPhone are both logged into an iCloud account with the same Apple ID;
3. Both the devices are connected to the same WiFi network;
Now, before I describe how to make phone calls from tablet iPad, let’s first set up your iPhone to allow your iPad to make & receive phone calls.
Here is how to set up your iPhone to enable iPad calls on iPhone:
1. Open the Settings app on the iPhone;
2. Tap ‘Phone’;
3. Tap ‘Calls on Other Devices’;
4. Toggle the iPad device to ON to allow making and receiving calls;
5. Exit Settings;
Now that your iPhone has been set up, get your answer below to your query – how do I make phone calls on my tablet iPad?
How do I make phone calls on my tablet iPad?
To make a phone call from an iPad,
1. Open the Settings app on your iPad and tap ‘FaceTime’;
2. Toggle ‘Calls from iPhone’ to ON;
3. Now, open the FaceTime app and tap a number from the column to the left, or tap the plus sign to enter a number for starting a new call;
4. After entering the number you want to call, tap Audio (for calling any type of phone) or Video (for Apple devices only) to begin your call;
5. You will notice near the top of the iPad screen, the calling message using iPhone;
6. Finish your call by tapping on the red phone icon;
How do I make phone calls from my Android Tablet?
Making phone calls directly from an Android tablet is not a built-in feature in most cases. This is because tablets typically lack the necessary hardware, such as cellular connectivity and a SIM card slot, to function as standalone phones. Then how do I make phone calls on my tablet Android in such a case?
You can use alternative methods to make phone calls with tablet. If you want to make phone calls from tablet Android, you can use apps that use Voice over IP (VoIP) technology like Skype or Google Voice, which allow you to make calls over the internet.
Here are the steps to follow which will help you to make phone calls from your Android tablet using VoIP Apps.
1. Download and install a calling app from your device’s respective app store. Popular VoIP Apps that allow you to make calls over the internet are Skype and Google Voice which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
(Skype is a popular choice because it not only facilitates video chats between computers but also allows users to make regular phone calls to landlines and mobile phones).
2. Once installed, set up the calling app by following the app’s instructions. Typically, you’ll need to sign in with your account, verify your phone number, and grant necessary permissions. These apps provide you with a phone number or allow you to use your existing mobile number for calling purposes.
3. Your tablet may not have a traditional earpiece speaker for voice calls. Therefore, consider using a Bluetooth headset or connecting the tablet to a Bluetooth speaker for improved audio quality during calls.
4. With the VoIP calling app set up ensure your tablet has a stable Internet connection (via cellular data or WiFi).
5. Now, Open the app and search for contacts or enter the phone number you wish to call and place your call.
You may also like to read: Internet Telephony – all you need to know about VoIP technology
Frequently asked questions
Now that you know how to make calls from tablet let me also address some of the queries often made related to using the tablet as a phone.
Can a tablet be used as a cell phone?
After you have established an internet connection, you need only two things for using the tablet as a phone –
i. An app that makes use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology;
ii. A pair of headphones;
How do I make a call from my Samsung tablet?
To make phone calls with tablet Samsung select the Phone app from the home screen and then enter the desired phone number in the Dial-pad and select the Call icon.
Do all Android tablets have SIM cards?
Not all tablets support a SIM card. Some tablets have a SIM card slot which allows them to connect to cellular networks for data and voice communication. This feature is commonly found in tablets designed for mobile connectivity. It is, therefore, important to check the specifications of a specific tablet model to see if it supports a SIM card.
You may also like to read: What is the difference between an iPad and a Tablet
Conclusion
In the article above it is clear from the answer to the query ‘How do I make phone calls on my tablet’ that it is easily possible to use the tablet as a phone to make and receive calls over the Internet using a WiFi connection and a third-party calling app such as Skype or Google Voice, if it does not support cellular voice calls.
However, it is important to check the specifications of a specific tablet model to see if it supports a SIM card. You can check this by looking in the settings or contacting the manufacturer for more information. This is important because by inserting a SIM card into your tablet, you can use its built-in Phone app to make and receive calls.
You may also like to read: How to fix a Hacked Android Phone