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GMate: Turn your iPod Touch to an iPhone

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.

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Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

148 Responses

  1. Avatar for ben ben says:

    how do you set up the internet access? mobile internet, globe’s prepaid SUPERSURF for example. tnx!

  2. Avatar for Andee Andee says:

    Hey, how about Yosion Apple Peel? ANyone heard of it? http://www.peel520.net/

  3. Avatar for Gino Gino says:

    You cannot use a BT headset with Gmate. The Gmate uses standard Nokia size battery. Yes you can replace it.

    Here is my review of Gmate+

    http://www.philmug.ph/forum/f164/gmate-turns-itouch-iphone-ipad-wifi-ipad-3g-78431/index22.html

  4. Avatar for leo leo says:

    im using gmate on my ipod touch 4g, is there any way na makagamit ng btheadset while gmate is active? one more Q na rereplace po ba battery ng gmate ntin? sa tagal tagal hihina un lituim bat…
    Salamat:)

  5. Avatar for brada brada says:

    I got a new Gmate + from www.magic-sim.com works great! Very impressed!

  6. Avatar for rainier rainier says:

    nabasa ko lang dito:
    http://www.facebook.com/GmatePhilippines

    Gmate+ Update: Here’s the difference between the original Gmate and “fake” gmates!

    The Gmate client will ask for device verification to make phone calls both Incoming and outgoing calls.

    Original Gmate- After the verification process, you will see this pop-up message “Congratulation, your Gmate has been verified succesfully”

    Fake Gmate- After verification. you will see this error message, ” Your Gmate can not be verified due to territory restrictions, please contact your seller immediately.”

    So please buy from our authorized dealers! Don’t waste your P3000 for nothing. For those who bought counterfeit devices don’t tell us that we did not remind you for this.

  7. Avatar for Paulo Paulo says:

    Client Version 1.0.3
    Gmate Software Version 5.1.5

    Bakit po di ako maka call, eto po error…

    (Your Gmate needs verification to make phone calls.)

    kapag verify ko naman sa Device Verification eto po error…

    (Your Gmate can not be verified due to territory restrictions, please contact your seller immediately.)

    Please help…

  8. Avatar for juniour juniour says:

    bought gmate @ 5500 here in baguio. got an iphone 4G, 4.11.08 ios 5.0.1. sometimes can’t accept incoming calls when pressed “accept” to a call. also, have to charge my iphone battery which drains fast. gmate battery has no problem since it lasts 3 days. my iphone battery lasts 1.5 days at most

  9. Avatar for Gino Gino says:

    Sms and voice call will work with stock Android rom. You will need to root to activate EDGE internet. Since your Note is a phone then this device need not use its internet.

    The iPod Touch 2G is no in the list of supported devices. You can try to install the client app from Cydia following skyroam’s guides and test at the store.

    Supported devies:

    iPod Touch 4
    iPad 1
    iPad 2
    iPhone 3GS
    iPhone 4
    iPhone 4S

  10. Avatar for WTFitsPauL WTFitsPauL says:

    good day Abe,

    1)do i have to root my Galaxy Note for this to work?
    2)older iTouch works right? i have a Jailbroken itouch 2G MC model.

  11. Avatar for Gino Gino says:

    Yes kailangan jailbreak. The client app can only be downloaded from Cydia which is installed by Jailbreaking.

    Consult applei.ph or Jailbreaking or have it done at Greenhills.

  12. Avatar for kyle kyle says:

    does gmate requires the ipod to be jailbroken?

  13. Avatar for lynette lynette says:

    pano po gagawing jailbroken ung ipod touch ko?

  14. Avatar for Gino Punsalan Gino Punsalan says:

    Install ka ng Gmate app muna. Consult how to install it at www.skyroam.com. Make sure you only get the Gmate client from the official repo in Cydia.

    Siyempre dapat Jailbroken na ang device mo. Then punta ka official vendor ng Gmate and testing mo. Kung gumana, orig yun.

    Kung vendor ang naginstall ng Gmate client at hindi gumamit ng Cydia, magduda ka na.

  15. Avatar for Name: Leigh gadi Name: Leigh gadi says:

    Ask ko lang po… Kung nkbili ng gmate, how would you know if its orig po or fake kung sa harap mismo ng client sinet-up un gmate with the. Gadget…..??? Hopin for a response. Thankyouuu

  16. Avatar for Gino Punsalan Gino Punsalan says:

    @Lee, yes it receives calls and messages. You get a notification popup.

    @muzikfreakah, no you cannot use a Bluetooth headset with an Apple device. You can use it with an Android device (unconfirmed).

    • Avatar for muzikfreakah muzikfreakah says:

      @gino: Thanks! Still, I don’t use bluetooth headsets on trips, so this will be useful for all those out of the country trips.

      Thanks!

  17. Avatar for muzikfreakah muzikfreakah says:

    Nice, I like your Germany idea, this would have been useful on my recent Japan trip as well. Question: Can you still use a bluetooth headset while this is connected?

  18. Avatar for Annie Annie says:

    How to set APN settings for TM and Talk and Text subscribers?

  19. Avatar for Lee Lee says:

    Does it still work (receive calls and texts) even when the screen is locked?

  20. Avatar for Gino Punsalan Gino Punsalan says:

    Meron na sa Applewerkz. Google mo branches sa Katipunan, Alabang, etc.

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