Tablet and internet surfing

Monkey Archive Forums/Digital Discussion/Tablet and internet surfing

semar (Posted 2012) [#1]

All, I have a smartphone (Galaxy with Android OS), and a sim card with internet flat. I can surf the internet (quite) whenever I am, and phone as well. So far, so good. I would like to do the same with an Android tablet - is that possible ? In other terms, can I take the sim card I have in my smartphone, and insert it in the appropriate slot in the tablet, and have internet access and (maybe) phone capabilities ? Do the Android tablet on the market have all a sim card slot to accomplish this task ? Could you please share your experience on this field ? Thanks in advance, Sergio.

Volker (Posted 2012) [#2]

Hi Sergio, it depends on the tablet. I have an older Samsung Galaxy Tab 7" which can be used as mobile phone too. Most tablets only support WiFi like Nexus 7, Amazon Kindle. And I haven't heard about a 10" tablet with phone capability. It may be hard to find something that fits your needs.

semar (Posted 2012) [#3]

Hi Volker, thanks for the reply. While I could live without phone capabilities, I do need internet access, so I rewrite my question: are the (Android) tablets out there also "internet ready" ? If so, could I use the same SIM card I use in my smartphone, or do the tablets use another kind of card to gain internet access ? Sergio.

Volker (Posted 2012) [#4]

Every tablet with phone capabilities can although give you mobile internet access, because it has a sim card slot. So you have to search for a android tablet with sim card slot. ViewSonic ViewPad 7 has one and some Galaxy Tabs too. Yes, you can use the same sim card you are using in your smartphone.

Samah (Posted 2012) [#5]

Alternatively you could set up a wifi hotspot on your phone, then just connect to it from your tablet. That's how I use my iPad on the bus.

semar (Posted 2012) [#6]

@Volker, thanks, now it's clearer for me, as I can refine the choice. @Samah, nice, I didn't know about wifi hotspot capabilities on smartphones, cool 'trick' indeed ! I guess that fast all the smartphones out there could create a wifi hotspot, and then it's a matter of choosing the right tablet - I mean, the one that are wifi ready..