Why can't my 3G Nexus 7 tablet be a phone?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I have a Nexus 7 2013 with WiFi and 3G. It'll happily take a SIM card.

I'm in New Zealand and my primary phone is out of action. Why can't I just pop my SIM into my Nexus tablet and receive text messages, place phone calls, etc?

I can't even find a text messaging or phone app on the play store.

 

[z1ggy]

Google Hangouts doesn't work?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I want to text directly from the number that's on my New Zealand SIM, or whatever SIM I happen to have in any country I'm in. I don't believe Hangouts does this.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Whoa, actually it seems that Hangouts would work. I can sign in as 'SMS' and I just got a text from my NZ cell provider upon entering in my SIM card.

Sent from my Nexus 7

 

[poofyhairguy]

The Nexus 7 can only get a data connection, not voice or mms/sms.

Hangouts would allow for IP calling and MMS.

 

[cronos]

All kinds of tablets sold in the rest of the world does have this functionality (and people are using them). I have family members using a 7-inch Samsung tablet as her primary phone.

Unfortunately, not for tablets sold in the US. I suspect it has something to do with the US carriers not wanting this to happen.

And yes, Hangouts is an excellent alternative for this.