Can an Edge card in a Tablet or Notebook function as a Cel..

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

This is undoubtedly a stupid question but I thought I would try. It
seems that you should be able to do this with some software on the
tablet or Notebook and an edge card.

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.cingular (More info?)

<tpratt@ci.lincoln.ne.us> wrote in message
news:1119034524.746980.60640@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> This is undoubtedly a stupid question but I thought I would try. It
> seems that you should be able to do this with some software on the
> tablet or Notebook and an edge card.

I'm new to Cingular from Sprint. According to Sprint management, data
packets are separated from voice packets at the 'tower controller'; each
sent a different route. Thus a data card on Sprint can usually handle voice
calls but at high charges of something like 20 cents a minute. There are
times when that would be cheap.

The gray area that everyone seems to dodge, is what happens if you use a
VoIP service on the data side to make a voice call. Some cellular providers
have claimed the ability to detect and block those calls to protect their
voice earnings. I've not the to inclination to test.

'Handsets as modem', Bluetooth and swappable SIMs, paired with products
emerging this year are really going to strain the traditional cellular
pricing model. Location Based Services via search engines to handsets may
offer subscription Wi-Fi broadcasts within a convenient driving distance so
the value of connection cards will decrease.

The value of connection cards to my customers lies primarily in the ability
to connect >while mobile< not from 'island hopping'.