I have a 3g tablet that I'm using as my primary device. However, I'd like to make/receive calls using a smaller device that fits in my pocket. I could buy a bluetooth handset for around $50, but I'd rather use a spare android phone I have if possible.
I did some research, looks like there's no way to use the phone as a bluetooth headset. But...couldn't I use it via wifi? I'm thinking...enable the wifi hotspot on the tablet, so the phone connects to the tablet via wifi. Tablet receives a call. Somehow it magically forwards it via voip to the android phone. Ideally I could also make a call via the phone, though that's not necessary.
No, google voice won't work, as it's an Australian number.
And I do know about Tablet Talk. I need something for voice calls though, not texts.
It'll probably be suggested that I simply put the sim in the phone and use the hotspot featue on it to share with the tablet. Good idea, but the battery life on the phone is less than stellar. It might last an hour or two in that mode; the tablet can last all day.
Thanks for any help!
Why can't you put another SIM card in your phone and enable call forwarding from the SIM that you use in your tablet to that in your phone? But first check whther there is any call forwarding charges impossed by your carrier.
amith007 said:
Why can't you put another SIM card in your phone and enable call forwarding from the SIM that you use in your tablet to that in your phone? But first check whther there is any call forwarding charges impossed by your carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, it costs to forward calls. I could just give two numbers out, but that'd be a hassle for those calling me.
josetann said:
Yup, it costs to forward calls. I could just give two numbers out, but that'd be a hassle for those calling me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm.. I see .. .. I am not sure whether there is an app which forwards voice call via VIOP.. another suggestion is put your primary SIM card (the one in tab now) in your phone and get a spare SIM card for your tab for data connection..
Cos SMS'es are not forwarded, and that is a not trully-carrier free solution.
amith007 said:
Hmm.. I see .. .. I am not sure whether there is an app which forwards voice call via VIOP.. another suggestion is put your primary SIM card (the one in tab now) in your phone and get a spare SIM card for your tab for data connection..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've thought of that too. What I'm aiming for is to have one primary device. I don't want to need to carry a tablet and a phone. So...tablet is primary, it handles all data and voice. Phone would serve same purpose as a bluetooth headset; if it's there, it could handle voice calls. If not, then calls still go through the tablet as usual.
I know the hardware is more than capable of doing this.
I may just end up getting one of those bluetooth headsets that act like a regular phone. Would (should?) double as a bluetooth audio receiver. Just hate spending more money when I already have something (spare android phone) that should do the job.
Can't really find a straight answer on this. Has anyone been able to setup their Gear S sim to have the same number as their mobile sim?
I guess this could be a different story for each carrier...
It usually has to be paired with you mobile device to share your mobile devices number.
Jay-Taicho said:
Can't really find a straight answer on this. Has anyone been able to setup their Gear S sim to have the same number as their mobile sim?
I guess this could be a different story for each carrier...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On AT&T if you are paired via BT it will show as your primary phone's number. If you are connected remotely and make a phone call, of course the Gear S is going to use and display it's phone number. However, I've been texting people from my Gear S while my phone is at home and it shows as my Primary Phone number as the source for the text.
Overall, I'll say that in the past 3-4 weeks it hasn't made a bit of a difference as no one has questioned anything or gotten confused. Working as I expected and hoped. In the case of a different phone number showing up, people have recognized it as me without worry. My Gear S has the same area code and prefix which I think helps.
dawgboy1783 said:
It usually has to be paired with you mobile device to share your mobile devices number.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, realised I wasn't clear enough. So what I want to do is have a sim in the Gear s that shares the same number as the sim in my mobile. So if I wanted to leave my phone home, I could.
Don't want to pay for a separate mobile plan for the Gear S, but don't want to switch my mobile number to the watch either.
Jay-Taicho said:
Sorry, realised I wasn't clear enough. So what I want to do is have a sim in the Gear s that shares the same number as the sim in my mobile. So if I wanted to leave my phone home, I could.
Don't want to pay for a separate mobile plan for the Gear S, but don't want to switch my mobile number to the watch either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think this is possible in the U.S. I'm on T-Mobile and my SIM that came with T-Mobile Wearable Plan has its own number.
Here is how it normally works:
1) When Gear S and the Samsung phone are connected using Bluetooth, all calls are placed and received using the PHONE. The watch simply acts as a Bluetooth headset
2) When Phone and Watch are not connected, you can configure the gear manager to forward calls to your watch. It works similar to forwarding your calls to another phone or voice mail. So, after a couple of rings, your Gear S would ring and you could pick up the call on it.
All in all it works pretty well. Also, in Europe, I think you can have two SIM cards associated with the same number but not in the U.S.
I think that would be considered Sim cloning. An illegal process in US... even if you are the #'s user.
Remember, we NEVER own our phone number. It's basically leased to us, and have sole use of it...as long as we pay for it.
With that said, I do remember reading an article about a year back, of a patent filed for a virtual SIM that would be for this purpose.
The OP is talking about multi-sim . Multi-sim is a service offered by many providers around the world. It gives you multiple identical sims with the same number and you can seamlessly share minutes and data. The watch even has a toggle for multi-sim setting. That would be the ideal seamless way to use this watch as your outgoing number from the watch is the same as the phone.
Here's an example: http://www.du.ae/mobile/mobileplans/multi-sim
I ordered a nano sim adapter for my Galaxy S5, and plan on asking att to issue me a nano sim.
Then I can pop it out of the phone and into the watch and go.
Btw, The watch will still call ems even without a sim. Score for me, I am an early am runner and there is only 1 number that can help me.
No monthly plan needed.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
I live in the Netherlands and just ordered a DualSIM which should make it possible for me to use both my S4A and GearS with the same phone and Sim number.
One of the Sims will be nano to fit the watch.
Can't wait for testing!
That's awesome, I wish the US would allow Dual sim cards.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
Jay-Taicho said:
Sorry, realised I wasn't clear enough. So what I want to do is have a sim in the Gear s that shares the same number as the sim in my mobile. So if I wanted to leave my phone home, I could.
Don't want to pay for a separate mobile plan for the Gear S, but don't want to switch my mobile number to the watch either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My carrier in Thailand allows me 2 sims, same number. However, not so with carrier in Afghanistan where I work, so depends on the carrier. I presently have Thai sim in gear s, and AFG in phone. Works OK with calls being registered against AFG sim in phone, roaming and data off on gear s.
Hope this helps.
ampm325 said:
That's awesome, I wish the US would allow Dual sim cards.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same for the UK.
Apparently some of the networks used to offer it years ago but primarily as a business service.
I've heard that Samsung have approached networks in markets such as the US and the UK about possibly introducing such a service but I doubt we'll see such a change.
About 3 weeks ago, I purchased a Gear S while on a trip to Scottsdale AZ. I had the Gear unlocked in anticipation that my Canadian Carrier, Rogers, would soon get the watch and I could purchase a SIM from them.
Well, today I found someone who knows a bit about the situation and they explained that Samsung has told the carriers that they must have some backend infrastructure to support the gear. Currrently Samsung is supporting all remote functions but has told all carriers they must have their own infrastructure ready by January 2015. It appears the CDN carriers figure they can't make any money if they also need to own the backend so they are refusing to carry the watch. Isn't that just typical of the BIG 3 Carriers. They make so much money with their ability to run themselfs as a monopoly by being in bed with each other and now they won't carry the watch because they would actually have to put out some capital $'s first! I sure wish Verizon would have some to Canada!
Sword Fish said:
About 3 weeks ago, I purchased a Gear S while on a trip to Scottsdale AZ. I had the Gear unlocked in anticipation that my Canadian Carrier, Rogers, would soon get the watch and I could purchase a SIM from them.
Well, today I found someone who knows a bit about the situation and they explained that Samsung has told the carriers that they must have some backend infrastructure to support the gear. Currrently Samsung is supporting all remote functions but has told all carriers they must have their own infrastructure ready by January 2015. It appears the CDN carriers figure they can't make any money if they also need to own the backend so they are refusing to carry the watch. Isn't that just typical of the BIG 3 Carriers. They make so much money with their ability to run themselfs as a monopoly by being in bed with each other and now they won't carry the watch because they would actually have to put out some capital $'s first! I sure wish Verizon would have some to Canada!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not good news! I'm expecting the Gear S to arrive today and I was planning on stopping by the Rogers store to get a data sim card to use with the watch. So, sounds like this idea isn't going to work? I may just turn around and return the Gear S?
greatg said:
That is not good news! I'm expecting the Gear S to arrive today and I was planning on stopping by the Rogers store to get a data sim card to use with the watch. So, sounds like this idea isn't going to work? I may just turn around and return the Gear S?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been to a lot of stores over the last few weeks and most staff don't even know what the watch is. When I show them mine, they still tell me it hasn't been released yet??? I talked to manager at a store in Calgary earlier today and he was the one who told me the story above...
Sword Fish said:
I've been to a lot of stores over the last few weeks and most staff don't even know what the watch is. When I show them mine, they still tell me it hasn't been released yet??? I talked to manager at a store in Calgary earlier today and he was the one who told me the story above...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, if I picked up a "rocket stick" and put the sim into the watch it wouldn't work? The sim would have a phone number associated with it and I'm assuming the call forwarding is being controlled by the app on the Note 4?
I took my SIM out of my Note 3 (Koodo) just yesterday to try it out. (futureshop gear S)
The watch input all the correct APN info without a hitch
Here's what I have discovered since then.
Phone: Works. However contact list imported from phone has skewed some of the contacts slightly. - still need to sort that out
Internet : Opera browser Works
Text Messages: once a conversation is built inbound only then can I respond to texts. I cannot compose a message at all
Email: same as text messages
Notifications: Works well
whats the best and cheapest way to have the gear s working like it does in the states?
Do i have to get a whole new sim card with data and voice plan?
jsnali13 said:
whats the best and cheapest way to have the gear s working like it does in the states?
Do i have to get a whole new sim card with data and voice plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I returned my Gear S because we (Canada) do not have a system set up by the carriers to utilize all of the Gear S features. I'm on Rogers and they do not support any sort of conditional call forwarding. If you have voice mail, any call forwarding will not work - Not sure why we can't have v-mail and conditional call forwarding?
Anyways, I did try a $15 pre-paid plan with Koodo. Work well as long as the watch was connected to phone via BT. Was completely useless as a standalone since no call forwarding (I did not want to give out watch number).
Unless we have a better solution, this is a very expensive product that cannot be utilized to its full potential.
If anyone has been able to set their Gear S up differently to work as per US - please provide info.
greatg said:
I returned my Gear S because we (Canada) do not have a system set up by the carriers to utilize all of the Gear S features. I'm on Rogers and they do not support any sort of conditional call forwarding. If you have voice mail, any call forwarding will not work - Not sure why we can't have v-mail and conditional call forwarding?
Anyways, I did try a $15 pre-paid plan with Koodo. Work well as long as the watch was connected to phone via BT. Was completely useless as a standalone since no call forwarding (I did not want to give out watch number).
Unless we have a better solution, this is a very expensive product that cannot be utilized to its full potential.
If anyone has been able to set their Gear S up differently to work as per US - please provide info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
isnt the call forwarding set up through Gear Manager?
I know i use to forward my cell number to my work line with no issues using the phone call settings. never had an issue because i had voice mail.
I cant see all these companies in the states setting up a different infrastructure just for this watch.
i have 14 days to play with this watch so might just get a sim with data and voice and try it out. i'm on telus so hopefully its just something with rogers that sucks.
jsnali13 said:
isnt the call forwarding set up through Gear Manager?
I know i use to forward my cell number to my work line with no issues using the phone call settings. never had an issue because i had voice mail.
I cant see all these companies in the states setting up a different infrastructure just for this watch.
i have 14 days to play with this watch so might just get a sim with data and voice and try it out. i'm on telus so hopefully its just something with rogers that sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, call forwarding can be set through Gear manager, but your network needs to support it. From what I've found out, non of the providers support conditional forwarding, and non-conditional forwarding does not work when v-mail is active. Let us know how you make out...
Eh, I have a question, what exactly do you mean by conditional and non-conditional forwarding ?
I will soon be with the Bell network and would like to know this as I just got a gear s today.
Isn't call forward a simple thing ? I don't particularly care for vmail as I don't plan to be away from phone that long anyway.
Just curious of the situation.
Elgreco333 said:
Eh, I have a question, what exactly do you mean by conditional and non-conditional forwarding ?
I will soon be with the Bell network and would like to know this as I just got a gear s today.
Isn't call forward a simple thing ? I don't particularly care for vmail as I don't plan to be away from phone that long anyway.
Just curious of the situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forwarding - Always forward
Conditional - Forward when busy; or Forward when unanswered; or Forward when unreachable
So i got a pre-paid sim yesterday from Telus. My phone is with telus and i do have call forwarding on my plan. The watch works fine. I only have pre-paid data and text so i only get texts forwarded to the watch right now, but call forwarding goes straight to my voicemail on the pre-paid card.
I was reading something on another post about CDMA carriers vs. GSM carriers but can find the post again. Maybe thats why rogers has issues?
greatg said:
Forwarding - Always forward
Conditional - Forward when busy; or Forward when unanswered; or Forward when unreachable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the Gear S set up with a Telus pre-paid SIM. My Note 2 is on Bell. Call forwarding works fine; when the Gear S disconnects from the BT connection with the phone, it prompts the phone (through Gear Manager) to turn on call forwarding to the Gear S after a delay of 60 seconds (to allow for temporary, intermittent disconnections). One thing I discovered on another forum, is that you must have mobile data enabled on the Gear S (something I didn't want to do, as it is crazy expensive on the basic prepaid SIM), as it appears the Gear S uses this to prompt the call forwarding (I don't know why Gear Manager couldn't do it on its own). In any event, it turn out to cost less than 10 cents every time the Gear S does this, so so far not an issue, and I have full functionality. I suspect however that this might be the back end function Samsung is looking to unload if the OP is correct - but again, it is a mystery to me why this back end function is even necessary if that's the case.
---------- Post added at 08:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 PM ----------
jsnali13 said:
whats the best and cheapest way to have the gear s working like it does in the states?
Do i have to get a whole new sim card with data and voice plan?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Telus pre-paid SIM I got was the cheapest option I have found so far - and my phone is on Bell. I pre-loaded it with $100 (as this is good for a year, rather than lesser amounts that expire after 30 days) and added a text message add-on for $5 a month (which is deducted from your pre-paid balance). The add-on gives me 250 text messages a month, and drops the cost of calls to 15 cents a minute. So, for less than $10/month, I have full functionality that should cover the amount of use I expect on mobile (i.e., off BT) with the Gear S. Also, I'm told that if I top up again at the end of the year, any remaining balance carries over. Thought this was the best was to go for now unless/until Bell comes out with a shareable option for my current plan, similar to what the carriers in the States are offering for the Gear S.
---------- Post added at 08:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 PM ----------
[/COLOR]
The Telus pre-paid SIM I got was the cheapest option I have found so far - and my phone is on Bell. I pre-loaded it with $100 (as this is good for a year, rather than lesser amounts that expire after 30 days) and added a text message add-on for $5 a month (which is deducted from your pre-paid balance). The add-on gives me 250 text messages a month, and drops the cost of calls to 15 cents a minute. So, for less than $10/month, I have full functionality that should cover the amount of use I expect on mobile (i.e., off BT) with the Gear S. Also, I'm told that if I top up again at the end of the year, any remaining balance carries over. Thought this was the best was to go for now unless/until Bell comes out with a shareable option for my current plan, similar to what the carriers in the States are offering for the Gear S.[/QUOTE]
Did you go into a telus store to find out about the $100 for the year deal? i dont see it on telus.com
---------- Post added at 07:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 PM ----------
jtOttawa said:
I have the Gear S set up with a Telus pre-paid SIM. My Note 2 is on Bell. Call forwarding works fine; when the Gear S disconnects from the BT connection with the phone, it prompts the phone (through Gear Manager) to turn on call forwarding to the Gear S after a delay of 60 seconds (to allow for temporary, intermittent disconnections). One thing I discovered on another forum, is that you must have mobile data enabled on the Gear S (something I didn't want to do, as it is crazy expensive on the basic prepaid SIM), as it appears the Gear S uses this to prompt the call forwarding (I don't know why Gear Manager couldn't do it on its own). In any event, it turn out to cost less than 10 cents every time the Gear S does this, so so far not an issue, and I have full functionality. I suspect however that this might be the back end function Samsung is looking to unload if the OP is correct - but again, it is a mystery to me why this back end function is even necessary if that's the case.
---------- Post added at 08:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:45 PM ----------
The Telus pre-paid SIM I got was the cheapest option I have found so far - and my phone is on Bell. I pre-loaded it with $100 (as this is good for a year, rather than lesser amounts that expire after 30 days) and added a text message add-on for $5 a month (which is deducted from your pre-paid balance). The add-on gives me 250 text messages a month, and drops the cost of calls to 15 cents a minute. So, for less than $10/month, I have full functionality that should cover the amount of use I expect on mobile (i.e., off BT) with the Gear S. Also, I'm told that if I top up again at the end of the year, any remaining balance carries over. Thought this was the best was to go for now unless/until Bell comes out with a shareable option for my current plan, similar to what the carriers in the States are offering for the Gear S.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your plan is pre-paid voice and data? with the addon of texts? I cant find this option on the telus site. when ever my phone is forwarded to the gear, it goes straight into voicemail of the gear sim. wonder if they will ever fix the forwarding so when not answered on your gear, it will return to your phone's voicemail.
It's a prepaid card, that gives you access to voice and data - not a plan. As both the voice and data rates on a basic prepaid card are expensive - $.50/min for calls, $.30/text, $2/mb data - you need to gauge your usage and add add-ons or a plan accordingly. With the $5 text add-on, as I mentioned, this drops the call rate to $.15/min. You can also add a data add-on, but so far I don't think I will need it (and the cheapest is $10/mo.). You can see the add-ons on the website; the rest is just a basic prepaid SIM, not a plan, which is why you don't see it. They will charge you $10 for the SIM. I went in to a Telus store for all of this.
At least one Canadian carrier is now offering the Gear S - no sign of a special plan for it yet though....
http://www.bell.ca/Mobility/Products/Samsung-Gear-S-black-Smartwatch
Edit: Rogers too...
http://www.rogers.com/web/link/wire...294967106+11+4294966826+4294966713+4294940989
I picked up the gear s a few weeks ago from samsung in edmonton.
I didn't bother informing my provider of my intentions. Just switched my microsim for a nano, and was set. Granted it did take a bit of messing aroung in the settings, I've managed to get it working as a standalone and as a companion for my note 4 simultaneously.
All notifications from my phone are forwarded over wifi or 3G while not connected via bluetooth.
Calls are forwarded to the watch, the only hitch so far is that I have to decide before I leave home whether I want the watch to dial out on my phones # or it's own.
Battery life is as expected from 300mah. BT connection, without 3G on yeilds a respectable 1.5-2 days, as a companion. The more you use it...
Having 3G always connected with BT left the gear s limping home @ 14% after 24hrs despite the battery pack boost back to 100% partway through.
Overall, I'm impressed. It's not yet a smartphone on your wrist, but getting close. There are a few annoyances such as the apparent inability to add a contact. As far as i can tell so far at least. Voice to text has worked well so far, and s voice does respond well to simple commands like call, text, play, open, set alarm, etc. It's no goggle now, but it's functioning well on the watch.
I find myself saying "OK gear" and "Hi google"
dr0n3droid said:
I picked up the gear s a few weeks ago from samsung in edmonton.
I didn't bother informing my provider of my intentions. Just switched my microsim for a nano, and was set. Granted it did take a bit of messing aroung in the settings, I've managed to get it working as a standalone and as a companion for my note 4 simultaneously.
All notifications from my phone are forwarded over wifi or 3G while not connected via bluetooth.
Calls are forwarded to the watch, the only hitch so far is that I have to decide before I leave home whether I want the watch to dial out on my phones # or it's own.
Battery life is as expected from 300mah. BT connection, without 3G on yeilds a respectable 1.5-2 days, as a companion. The more you use it...
Having 3G always connected with BT left the gear s limping home @ 14% after 24hrs despite the battery pack boost back to 100% partway through.
Overall, I'm impressed. It's not yet a smartphone on your wrist, but getting close. There are a few annoyances such as the apparent inability to add a contact. As far as i can tell so far at least. Voice to text has worked well so far, and s voice does respond well to simple commands like call, text, play, open, set alarm, etc. It's no goggle now, but it's functioning well on the watch.
I find myself saying "OK gear" and "Hi google"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure I follow... Do you mean you got another nano SIM for the service you have on your phone, so both your Gear S and your phone are operating on the same service..? I didn't think that was possible - that is, that providers only allow one active SIM per service - or do you mean something else, i.e., that you have only one active SIM, and it is in your Gear?
jtOttawa said:
Not sure I follow... Do you mean you got another nano SIM for the service you have on your phone, so both your Gear S and your phone are operating on the same service..? I didn't think that was possible - that is, that providers only allow one active SIM per service - or do you mean something else, i.e., that you have only one active SIM, and it is in your Gear?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I completely omitted the fact that I have two active voice plans sharing data. As i did before the gear s.
The Gear works as a standalone with one number, for voice, text and data.
The note 4 has the same_voice, text and data on it's own number.
Two phones as before, but one on my wrist. With call forwarding, and all notifications from the note being sent, the gear s is essentially functioning as both phones.
My pockets seem so empty.
dr0n3droid said:
Sorry, I completely omitted the fact that I have two active voice plans sharing data. As i did before the gear s.
The Gear works as a standalone with one number, for voice, text and data.
The note 4 has the same_voice, text and data on it's own number.
Two phones as before, but one on my wrist. With call forwarding, and all notifications from the note being sent, the gear s is essentially functioning as both phones.
My pockets seem so empty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, yes, well, that will certainly work. I was looking for the cheapest possible way to get 3G functionality on the Gear S, at least until the carriers come out with a shareable option similar to that being offered by the U.S. carriers, given that I expect to use the Gear S as a standalone device very rarely (but like having that capability).
I have to have 2 sim cards active all the time, one is an international sim that roams on AT&T network (2G) I use only for phone calls & SMS's, DATA disabled all the time (too much $$ otherwise). The other sim card is a metro pcs unlimited everything. I currently have the ASUS zenfone 2 that I like, except the screen is broken, touch still works though, but now want to try the Gear S + a single sim phone (might buy a refurb. Tmobile Note 4, or a Nexus 6P..etc.)
- Say I have the international sim card in an unlocked AT&T gear S, and when I receive a call; answer it in my phone that's connected to the Gear S through Bluetooth? Or do I need to answer it through the built in speaker or a Bluetooth headphone connected to the Gear S?
- Is there an app like pushbullet that will push notifications (SMS's, missed calles..etc) to my other devices?
Thanks!
1. No, phone calls to the watch needs to be answered on the watch. You can have a BT headset connected to the watch to answer it but phone's can be used this way.
2. Notifications only go one way: from phone to watch. I'm not aware there is any app to the other way.
Also, keep in mind that the Gear S can only work within North America. If you use it outside that region, it is physically not possible to pick up any signal because its dual-band radio.
foxbat121 said:
1. No, phone calls to the watch needs to be answered on the watch. You can have a BT headset connected to the watch to answer it but phone's can be used this way.
2. Notifications only go one way: from phone to watch. I'm not aware there is any app to the other way.
Also, keep in mind that the Gear S can only work within North America. If you use it outside that region, it is physically not possible to pick up any signal because its dual-band radio.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought it'd be able to route the call somehow heh.
I have pushbullet app, it sends whatever in the notification area to all other devices that run the same app using WiFi or DATA ..etc. I'm guessing no such a thing under Tizen that is reliable and works 100% of the time?
Thanks for the heads up regarding supported frequencies.