Yes, you would look like a moron holding a 7-inch or larger tablet to the side of your face. People would point at you and you would be mocked for days. I tend to take things in a totally different light then most people in the world. As David and Simon will tell you “Your brain is a very scary place. I wouldn’t want to ever read your thoughts.” That is a direct quote that both of them have used in multiple conversations. So why do i think these new tablets that can make and receive calls have a real shot in the market? Simple. Convenience and savings.
Convenience
I can ask a few very simple set of question right now that will make you think a little differently and might make you see the potential of either of these devices.
- Do you carry your tablet and phone with you everywhere you go?
- Are you on a GSM network carrier?
- Does your primary phone routinely die everyday?
- Do you find yourself without Wi-Fi but want to use your tablet rather than your phone to get something done or to stream to a larger screen?
Obviously the key is a GSM network where you can take your SIM out of your phone and stick it in the tablet. It will let you use your already paid for data and voice services on a larger device. Sure, you don’t want to hold a HUGE tablet to your face. Plug in some earbuds with a mic or connect your Bluetooth headset to it. It isn’t rocket science. If your phone is dead and you are waiting on important business call, or your wife is pregnant and about to have your baby or any other number of reasons. I would prefer to have the option of using my tablet to get a hold of people and so people could get a hold of me if for some reason my phone is dead.
Savings
Again, I can ask a few simple questions that could give you a different opinion.
- Do you already pay for data on your phone?
- Do you want to pay for wireless data on a tablet you hardly use without wifi access?
- Has your carrier locked down your ability to tether your device without spending more money?
My train of thought is that these guys are creating a solution to a problem that prevents many people from buying a tablet to begin with. If I can’t tether the data I already pay for just so I can stream a Netflix movie to a larger screen or hit the web and have a larger screen to look at files, diagrams, presentation or the likes, then I don’t want one. While there is plenty of free Wi-Fi access around, often time they are even crowded and slow. Who really wants to spend another $20, $30 or $40 a month to get online via their tablet once a day for 20 minutes, or once a week, or heck a few times a month?
I think Samsung and ASUS have done a fantastic job of offering a solution to issues that we all face, but everyone is stuck on the  idea of using as their primary phone. Neither of these devices are designed to be YOUR PHONE. They are created and designed to be your alternative. The option to circumnavigate the way that carriers control our use and our devices. A way to say, “ya, you can get a tablet and you don’t need a sepperate plan or contract to have it.”
I personally think it is a very smart and an extremely brilliant approach for both companies. The world needs to get out of the tradition thought process that if it makes calls, it needs to be held to your head and be your phone. It really doesn’t. I remember when everyone said that DVD’s would fail. That Blue-Ray was a wast of time. When cellphones and making calls mobile was never going be for the mainstream consumer. I am only 30 and i remember the new ideas being slammed, look at us now.
By all means leave a comment below. Tell me I am way off. Tell me my brain is a train wreck on how I see things and see these tablets. All specs and power aside, simple about the call aspect of the tablets. Did you think of the same life situations or did you ever even to think beyond holding a huge tablet to the side of your head when you read about these two new devices?
