Yup, that’s true. You can even turn your iPhone 4 to a dual-SIM phone too. Got this GMate by SkyRoam the other month but since my 4G iPod Touch and iPad2 have not been jailbroken, I wasn’t able to use it.
Since yesterday’s release of the jailbreak for iOS 5, I’ve been using the GMate with my iPod Touch 4G.
What GMate does is provide cellular functionality to an iPod Touch, iPad or even the iPhone. The cellular service includes phone calls, SMS and mobile internet (just EDGE though).
The GMate connects to the iDevices via Bluetooth, has it’s own internal battery which lasts about a day and a regular SIM card slot. The device charges via a micro-USB port.
Once your device is jailbroken, you will need to add the GMate App and connect both devices via Bluetooth. You then tuck away the GMate in your pocket or backpack while using the cellular functions. The device will still work fine even if you’re 10 feet away from it.
If you don’t any other Apple products, you can still use the GMate with an Android device (same principle and similar Android app is used).
This is great when you have a spare SIM you want to use but don’t have a spare phone. I’m thinking of using this during my 2 week seminar in Germany this March. I’d buy a local SIM, insert it on the GMate, accept SMS from my Globe number on the iPhone and send SMS via the GMate. Should be less expensive in the long run.
When used on an iPhone or an Android phone, the GMate’s cellular functions are attached to the app. That means the app needs to run in the background all the time and uses a separate contact list you need to populate (it can import SIM card contact numbers though).
My only issue with the GMate is that it only supports GPRS and EDGE mobile internet connection so using a data SIM with it will be impractical and slow.
Could be more attractive to people who have or can only afford an iPod Touch but not an iPhone. The dual-SIM function for the iPhone 4 and 3GS also makes it a worthy buy.
how about the way of talking to ipod touch? is it necessary to use headphone or in speakerphone since ipod touch has no built in earpiece…
@gmate
I bought it from metrodeals… I paid 4800 for it… naisahan nga ako eh… anyways… sa web ko dinowload yung app so its working… sa Android may problem siya since sometimes the gmate app hangs… pero sa ios I redownloaded it and it works fine na..
@Yugatech / Gmate users,
Did you also notice a decrease in the system volume when playing music / videos while Gmate client is running in the background? It gets louder and back to normal as soon as you QUIT Gmate.
My iPod Touch is also running on iOS 5.0.1
how long does ur battery last?
@sonofa: where did you buy your gmate? if its not one from our authorized dealers then you might be having some problems installing or updating the gmate app. since there are some sellers who sell fake gmate and will not receive any support from gmate.. so visit www.gmatephilippines.com for more info and list of authorized dealers.
I bought it from metrodeals… I paid 4800 for it… naisahan nga ako eh… anyways… sa web ko dinowload yung app so its working… sa Android may problem siya since sometimes the gmate app hangs… pero sa ios I redownloaded it and it works fine na…
I bought it from metrodeals… I paid 4800 for it… naisahan nga ako eh… anyways… sa web ko dinowload yung app so its working… sa Android may problem siya since sometimes the gmate app hangs… pero sa ios I redownloaded it and it works fine na..
cool but concerned lang ako sa battery.. got this from the net. ipod touch wifi will last for 3 hours lang.. i can’t find any source for bluetooth. will hold buying this muna until i get info on this
http://forums.ilounge.com/ipod-touch/215227-touch-battery-life-tested-here-results.html
I have used gmate when my iPod touch was 4.03
pero after update ayaw na mag install properly ng gmate app…
for any questions or inquiry you can email us at s****@****.***
Android user here with an iTouch (call it swinging, yeah!) Stupid question – why do you need to jailbreak the iTouch to use the Gmate? It says it connects via bluetooth…
Many possibilities here. With my Android I can have an additional 2 phones.
Most probably the jailbreaking is for the app. It needs elevated privileges for the app to work. And no, I don’t think it would work for android as of the moment since as mentioned it needs to have the gmate app. And why bother, the galaxy s2 duos is coming to town! :p
ah ..na gets ko na ^_^ hehehe
ask ko lng ha. . hnd kac ako techie….
kahit nokia 2730classic lng phone ko and using iPod Touch .. pede?
Sir Abe,
Can this be use in a Blackberry Playbook?
Once your Playbook has Android Market you can use this by installing the Android App.
Yes…its very easy to jailbreak an i touch…look for the jailbreak here in yugatech where you just have to click an app the your i touch is jailbroken…but it should be version 4.3.3 ( if i remeber that right). And my i touch been battery enptied many times, still its jailbroken…in technical terms’ unthethered. (No need to jailbreak even if battery is drained).
Abe, what’s the case on your Note?
It’s called the MFit. Got it at Sim Lim in SG for SGD80.
Is it really hard to jailbreak your ipod?
I had my ipod jailbroken before but the technician told me not to leave my ipod battery empty or else I have to take it back to them and they will restart/re-activate my ipod and pay them 100 Php. I don’t think this is fair. So I decided not to avail their services.
This is cool! :) Thanks for the tip!
I use cpeel for my i touch before i bought myself moto droid razr…well in my opinion, id rather choose cpeel before gmate for. The later, it uses bluetooth which is additional power drainer for i touch. Probably one should bring himself an extra battery pack for the i touch to last long. By the way, cpeel can charge i touch using its own battery. I hope gmate cam be an external battery pack charger.
you may visit www.gmatephilippines.com for more info :) Official Exclusive Distributor :)
alright :D
Steep.
now this is more convenient than the apple peel, right?
I wonder about that too…
Hmm so for a total of around 12k (iPod Touch + Gmate), it’s a steal already. :)
Needs to be jailbroken lang but yeah, it’s worth it.
Liked it better than Apple Peal since you can stow this away in your bag and still be connected.
how much battery drain will it be if you leave the bluetooth on in both devices?
STOP SOPA