Solved! How to Make Phone Calls From an iPad

Can I make phone calls on my iPad? This is a common question asked by iPad users who want to push the functionality of their iPads just that bit more. The current iPad model doesn't have an inbuilt phone functionality, although I suspect it could be a future possibility, however the good news is, with the right iPad app, you can indeed make phone calls from your iPad.

• An iPad 1 or iPad 2
• A VoIP application
• Active internet connection

You will be making calls from your iPad using VoIP (Voice over IP), this requires an internet, so before you begin you will need to ensure that you have an active internet connection. This means either ensuring that your iPad's WI-FI is enabled, or if you own a 3G enabled iPad, you will need to make sure that you have data left.

Phone calls made on your iPad are free in a sense. If you are making app-to-app phone calls, then you are not paying for the actual phone call, however, as the phone call is made over the internet, you are paying for the data usage.

However, there are instances where you will be paying for the phone calls, often at a much lower rate than your normal phone provider. For example, if you are making a call from a Skype application and the call recipient is a non-Skype user, then you will have to pay for that call connection.

There are two ways you can make phone calls with your iPad. The first involves both yourself and the call recipient having the same iPad application. This extends to iPhone (or iPod touch user with wifi enabled) uses if they are using the same app. The most common iPad/iphone app for making phone calls is Skype. The great thing about Skype is that it is compatible with iPhones, iPads, Android, computers and tablets. If Skype is not your thing, look into Viber. Viber is comptabile with iPhones, iPads, iPod touch and android.

You've got to love how you can now make free phone calls using Google voice. Well to be honest, I don't love it, because being based outside of America, it doesn't apply to me. However, if you are based inside America, you're in luck, because you can make free calls within America, and pay low rates for international calls.

note: When using Google Voice to make international calls keep tabs on your balance, as it is my understanding that if your balance is up, the call switches to AT&T directly with much higher rates.

Once you have set up your iPad for phone calls, there is little maintenance required apart from the usual app updates and an on-going active internet connection. Depending on which application you choose and the whether or not you will be making app-to-app calls, you may still be required to pay for your phone calls either by buying phone credit or by purchasing a subscription plan(skype.) Either way, it will in all likelihood be far more cheaper than making calls via a land-line or ordinary cell phone.

Additionally, as the iPad has an inbuilt speaker and microphone, no additional accessories are required, although some iPad users do prefer to use a Bluetooth headset with microphone.

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