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Texting and calling

Why I can’t I text or call an Android from my iPad it has its own number and SIM card?

iPad, iPadOS 13

Posted on Sep 22, 2020 7:34 PM

Top-ranking reply

Michael Black

Level 10

80,430 points

Posted on Sep 22, 2020 7:40 PM

The telephone number on a WiFi+cellular iPad is for cellular data account billing purposes only. It serves no other function.

An ipad is an internet data only device. It is incapable of connecting to any cellular telephone service providers voice telephine network. It can connect over cellular data to the internet.

So, an iPad by itself is incapable of making cellular telephone voice calls, nor sending or receiving SMS/MMS texts as these are sent over the cellular telephone voice network.

To make calls, or send/receive SMS/MMS texts, you must pair an iPad with an iPhone using iOS continuity to allow the iPad to use the iPhones cellular voice connection -> Use Continuity to connect your Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch - Apple Support

By itself, an iPad is limited to VOIP calls (FaceTime, Skype, Ooma or whatever) or internet messaging services (iMessage, Skype, Google Hangouts, WhatsApp Web, etc).

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Texting and calling

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