Phablets - mobile phone issue

jedavies

They've been around for about 3 years now. Basically a large smartphone combining mobile phone and tablet.

I am partially sighted so I find them much easier to use than a standard size smartphone. I have used a phablet (7") for the past couple of years without problem on the 3 network and when my manufacturer created a 4G 9.7" version (Onda V919) earlier this year I decided I would get one.

I got my new phablet on Friday and found out I need a micro sim in it. My old took a standard sim. The local 3 shop gave me a micro and it activated in a couple of hours. I rang the phablet and it worked perfectly taking the incoming call without problem. I then tried to call out and to my amazement the 3 account I have would not let me phone out.

Talked to 3, even at CEO office level, and was told they support phablets, but according to their records my phablet is a TABLET, and therefore a tablet only uses data and therefore calling is blocked. I told them I am a very low usage even though my call, texts and data are all unlimited.

3 completely stonewalled on the issue. I'm cancelling the 3 account and trying another provider EE for a month to see if it will work fully with them. I'll keep this thread posted.

Phablets, of which this new Onda V919 is lightening fast and better than any ipad I have seen, are still "new" technology (3 years). BUT it shouldn't be news to the industry its made for! C'mon 3, get with the tech.

NOTE TO MSE: By the way, you don't have phablets listed in your current "what devices do you use" poll. Maybe you class them like me as just a large format smartphone, ideal for the elderly or partially sighted!

indesisiv

Is this the dual boot tablet? If so then only android supports calls, the windows boot does not.

PS this is classed and sold as a tablet and not as a phone.

JJ_Egan

Its a Tablet .
Phablets i would class as Note 3/ 4 size .
At 9.7 inch this is Tablet size .
Onda V919 3G Air Windows8 + Android Retina Screen Dual Boot Tablet PC 64GB


Wikipedia .

Phablets have screens that measure diagonally 5.3–6.99 inche

grumbler

indesisiv wrote: »

PS this is classed and sold as a tablet and not as a phone.

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Its a Tablet .
Phablets i would class as Note 3/ 4 size .
At 9.7 inch this is Tablet size .
Onda V919 3G Air Windows8 + Android Retina Screen Dual Boot Tablet PC 64GB


Wikipedia .

Phablets have screens that measure diagonally 5.3–6.99 inche

And? What difference does it make how it is classed?

It might make some sense to block data if the sim is intended for phones only and tethering is disallowed, but it makes no sense whatsoever to block calls from a tablet if it supports calling.

IDIOTS (I mean Three).

JJ_Egan

I agree totally and have always failed to understand the rules .

alderpoint

3 are nuts if they are making such a distinction. There is no reason for them to care what device you are using their SIM in: as long as you are paying for your usage, whether voice, data, txt etc.

I move SIMs around regularly between different devices and never tell the network operator as there is no need for them to know: this works fine on EE, Vodafone, Giffgaff.

Silk

Sounds to me as if it's a data only sim with no voice plan

cookie365

According to this:
http://www.onda-tablet.com/onda-v919-air-dual-boot-tablet-pc-64gb.html

It supports GSM under Android, so for all intents and purposes is a big phone.

Have you tried making calls when running Android rather than Windows?