Call sim verses Data sim

[Anonymous]

I have just purchased a Sim free Sony Xperia Z3 tablet model SGP621 which has 3G & 4G capabilities. I would like some advice on which sim to put in it. I know it needs a nano sim, but do I need a call sim or data sim? My mobile contract with O2 is PAYG using the same sim card as supplied with my original Nokia which was with BT Cellnet. I have never been one for making calls or sending texts (less than 100 in a Year), so PAYG suits me fine as I use Wi-Fi in the main for data access. I want to keep my existing mobile for making calls in the UK as it is more handy to carry. However I do envisage using the tablet to send text messages particularly when overseas on holiday where Wi-Fi can be hit and miss.

Ideally I would like to have the same mobile no, so I was thinking of getting a call nano sim and transfer the existing credit and number from my old BT Cellnet sim to the new one so that I can send & receive text's on the tablet  when overseas and then get a sim adapter so that I can put the new sim into my old mobile as this is more portable when in the UK. However it has been suggested that I need a data sim for the tablet as opposed to a call sim. If I choose this option is it possible send & receive texts from one and also make phone calls if required in an emergency? 

[MI5]

O2's data sims do come with a text allowance and your PAYG sim would be very expensive to use data on, for the amounts a tablet is likely to use.
You can also use apps to send messages from your tablet to other smartphones with the same apps and some will do calls to, such as BBM and Viber etc.

Skype can be used to make emergency calls if required....

[Anonymous]

I do need ability to send messages to my better half who does not have or desire a smartphone. She has an old Nokia 2330. On my existing smartphone I use my home network for downloading app data and pay £3.00 a month bolt on which works fine. When overseas I pay the daily £1.99 charge, but tend to have data roaming turned off by default and where Wi-Fi is good enough (in Greece this is rare) I will use that. I would envisage doing same with new one. Where there is no Wi-Fi it would probably be turned off.

[viridis]

You will need a data sim anyway as you cannot make calls on the tablet.
Your best bet is to get a data sim and use one of the Skype style caller apps for voice contact.

[Anonymous]

Could the OP not use his sim in his phone and TuGo on the tablet to send texts?

[viridis]

I think op is on payg and i dont think tugo is supported for pay and go customers.

[Anonymous]

Further to this, I have located user guide at Sonymobile.com which does confirm that it is possible to make and receive calls on the SGP621 variant of the Sony Xperia Z3 Tablet Compact. 

[viridis · Accepted solution]

Yes you are correct.
Apologies the z3 does have call functions so therefore you can use any sim.
based on low usage there should be no reason why you can't pop your current sim in when abroad for the uses mentioned.
I personally have a data sim in my z tablet as i would purely use it for data But if my uses were lower I would consider your scenario.
Opologies for my earlier confusion.

[Cairdeas]

I was wondering about putting a sim in my tablet. I've never had Payg so I'm a bit confused. Do you need to pay a fixed amount to keep your sim connected or do you just top up when you need data? X

Obvs want to keep my pay monthly sim in my phone x

[Cleoriff]

What tablet do you have @Cairdeas? I might call @viridis in on this one. My tablet has a datapass in it. I just top that up when needed...