My basic question is to what extent the Z2 4G Tablet can be used as phone. I have not bought a Z2 4G Tablet yet, though it looks like my best choice for what I want so far.
The User Guide http://support.sonymobile.com/gb/xperiaz2tablet/userguide/ gives information about making and receiving calls, but various people (such as people at a 3 shop and on the 3 helpline) seem to be saying that it does not work like that.
By the way, I am in the UK, and, for people in other countries who may not know, 3 is a company that sells SIM cards.
Does the Z2 4G Tablet simply work like a mobile phone (as far as phone calls are concerned) (as long one can get the relevant SIM card for it)?
Is it possible to get the relevant SIM card?
The SIM card I would really like is one from 3 which is a Pay As You Go with very cheap rates, and where money put on it does not expire. (For example it does not disappear after 30 days if you do not use it.) The rates for this SIM card quote costs for: calls in minutes, texts and data. The link for this is http://www.three.co.uk/Store/SIM/Pay_As_You_Go The people from 3 have said specifically that this SIM will not work in a tablet, despite the fact that the Z2 Tablet has facilities for making calls. 3 refer to this type of SIM as a "phone SIM".
On the 3 website, if you follow links for SIMs for Tablets you go to a webpage with what they call PAYG but where the only options are for things which expire. The rates for this SIM only show data and texts, not calls in minutes. 3 refer to this type of SIM as a "data SIM".
http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchTariff?deviceType=SIM_ONLY_MBB&priceplan=&greatForServices=&manu...
I have found info on the web that some types of SIM used to work in certain devices, and then later stopped working, with a message saying something like "please take this SIM out and put it back in a phone".
Examples:
http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/opinion/internet/3368856/three-blocks-sim-only-pay-monthly-account-from-u...
http://www.eurogamer.net/forum/thread/253028
All this suggests to me that the Phone SIM will not work in a tablet because the company has blocked it, rather than it not being technically capable of working. I am guessing that reason they have done this is that the rates they are charging on the relevant SIM are so cheap that they are losing money if people use them - it's a "loss leader".
I am concentrating on 3 because they seem to be offering closest to what I want.
So it looks like I will be stuck with a Data SIM with credit that expires.
The person on the 3 helpline said basically that "the Z2 4G Tablet has a Sony app for making calls 'via the Internet' and that cost is measured in data rather than call minutes".
So it looks like the 3 person agreed that I would be able to made calls, but it is still not clear to me how I could receive calls. The User Guide gives info about receiving calls, but what number would people call? I have seen on the packaging of the Phone SIM that it comes with a phone number, but I am guessing that a Data SIM does not come with a phone number.
I am guessing the Sony app is a bit like Skype. With Skype one has to pay extra for having a phone number that people can call you on (as far as I understand it).
Does the Z2 4G Tablet come with a phone number?
If it does not come with a phone number, how does one go about aquiring one? And does it cost extra?
Is there anything else about using the Z2 4G Tablet as a phone that I have not thought of (I keep thinking I have finally understood these issues, and then it turns out I have not)?
Thanks in advance,
Frank1
