Can the CF-30 with SIM be a Mobile Phone

This fine group recently solved my WWAN delema so I said to myself why not go back for some more fine advice. So here it is.... Since I spend a lot of time in my vehicle with my CF-30 and it is equipped with an activated SIM card why could one not use the TB as a mobile phone if I was to have the SIM card tied to a voice and data plan? Is this done or am I out to lunch on this? It sure would be nice to have this option with the TB in the vehicle mount and some sort of hands free setup for cell calls.

Chris

 

It was a feature on the old modems , and the watcher software gave you a voice tab,as well as data
Some of the older Toughbooks had an mini-plug output for voice that you could interface a headset
I used it years ago, I called my Toughbook the largest cell phone in the world lol
I don't think it was that popular,and have not seen audio output jacks on the wireless modems lately

 

I recently asked at&t (my cellular and wireless broadband service provider) about that very issue, as the Sierra Wireless Aircard 860 HSDPA/UMTS Quad Band EDGE/GPRS modem in my CF-29HTM50BM has voice capabilities.

The answer was that there was no provision in the wireless broadband system for voice support.

YMMV; depending on your provider.

 

My TB has the Gobi 1000 and definately no mini jack. I though one could maybe use the audio in and out jacks of the TB itself. Just dreaming I guess.

Chris

 

Since you have the broadband service I wonder if you could use a VOIP service like vonage or magic jack that connects through your WWAN card.

 

I use MagicJack for this and am very happy with it.

 

Or you can try one of these...

Kensington Vo200 Bluetooth(R) Internet Phone for Skype - eBay (item 140410070373 end time Jan-16-11 19:43:07 PST)

They're all over eBay for about this price.

mnem
VOIP 9, Mr. Sulu...

 

. . . skype . . .

 

Sorry for not responding to all the suggestions for which I thank you all. I think I understand the systems you propose but I was more or less hoping for some type of system that would allow me to use my existing SIM card and wireless account and have some type of dial up software to use the TB as a giant cell phone as Alex suggested he did in the past. Communication of course would have to be through some sort of bluetooth or USB headset. Am I just dreaming or has this been done? Thanks for the think tank 'keep them wheels a grinding'

Chris

 

OK, Chris; the two things to consider here are:

1) Whether or not your WWAN modem has voice/data capabilities; and,
2) Whether or not your wireless broadband provider has voice capabilities to utilize with that modem.

As I wrote earlier, AT&T Mobile Broadband told me they do not.

 

If your CF-30 has a Gobi 1000 umts modem in it, then it doesn't support CSD (only PSD) alas.

So it can't do a "traditional" dial up connection for voice calls.

 

It is my understanding that the bluetooth handset I pointed to here:

Kensington Vo200 Bluetooth(R) Internet Phone for Skype - eBay (item 140410070373 end time Jan-16-11 19:43:07 PST)

is nothing more than a bluetooth headset in a different form for convenience sake. This means that it should work with ANY form of VOIP that supports a connection to bluetooth headset; or of course, you should also be able to use a regular bluetooth headset if you have it.

Now the only thing to figure out is the software...

mnem
I'd buy that for a dollar...

 

Well that's a shame. I'm always looking for a convenient, the less you have to tote around or plug in solution to maximize the power and utility of the TB. The Kensington VO200 and a Skype account may be worth a try for the investment.