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GMate: Turn your iPod Touch to an iPhone

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief December 29, 2011 · 2 min read

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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.

What does the GMate device do?

The GMate provides cellular functionality including phone calls, SMS, and mobile internet to iPod Touch, iPad, or iPhone.

How does the GMate connect to an iDevice?

The GMate connects to iDevices via Bluetooth and requires a jailbroken device with the GMate App installed.

Can the GMate be used with non-Apple devices?

Yes, the GMate can also be used with an Android device using a similar Android app.

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Abe Olandres

Editor-in-chief

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 is considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines.

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298 Comments

Gino · 14 years ago

Gmate works with iPad 2. I got it working. Jailbreak just released today. A new Gmate firmware is also available.

Gino · 14 years ago

Click Gmate Home icon. Click Settings>Internet Settings. Put Globe’s apn, Try with proxy off. If it doesn’t work, you may need to put globe’s dns in the Proxy field. Ask Globe or skyroam.com for port no.

Anne · 14 years ago

I bought gmate awhile ago and I can’t activate the internet by using it. I’m using globe sim card. please help me to activate it. thank you so much :D

Gino · 14 years ago

That is good to hear. Thank you for the heads up. I will update now.

slimzky · 14 years ago

FYI,

Latest update available

Client Version 0.7.4
Gmate Software Version 4.13.1

The good thing is, it fixed my sound issue!!

Kudos to their developers!

jeannie · 14 years ago

Yuga,

I bought Gmate yesterday but the problem is i can’t access the internet using it. I put the correct APN for smartbuddy (internet) but no good.. ms not-so-techy here.

maan · 14 years ago

kuya gino,kuya yuga ask lng po if gmate will create a “phonebook” in my ipod? where a can search my contacts? pg may 2mwag po b skin o ngtxt number nya po b o name ang lalabas? cnsya n po noob.

slimzky · 14 years ago

may “Import” option ang contacts ng Gmate. OS yung nasa Simcard mo pwedeng ma-import in just “one-click”. So pag may nagtext or tumawag, name nila ang lalabas.

Gino · 14 years ago

Kung ano ang nasa Contacts ng iPod Touch/iPhone/iPad/Android device mo yun ang gagamitin ng Gmate. Kagay ng sinabi ni Slimzky, kung may contact names ka sa sim mismo, mayroong Import function ang Gmate.

Wljay · 14 years ago

Guys, ask ko lang, talaga bang nagkaka problema ang pag connect with other bluetooth device (bluetooth headphone) pag naka install yung gmate? kasi nag test run ako ng installation sa cydia and my bluetooth was disabled …

Gino · 14 years ago

BT headset will not work. hindi supported ng Gmate.

Adrian · 14 years ago

I hope there’ll be a 3G or 4G that’ll come out. :)

radzi · 14 years ago

hi guys! official ba yung facebook page ng gmate? ng inquire kasi ako dun at nagpa reserve when their 4k php prom was still on. and now im in touch via emails with them (sa****@gmatephilippines.com) and said they can sell me the gadget still at 4k +free shipping. Authentic kaya ito? baka kasi bogus.. and can anyone send me the link to the official PH site? thanks!

Gino · 14 years ago

Yes. Spitze Trading is the official distributor.

Jeff · 14 years ago

Can i use this gmate with my itouch 2nd and 3rd gen? Thanks

Gino · 14 years ago

It officially support the iPod Touch 4 (Late 2010 and later). However, this is due to lack of testing on older iPod Touchs. You can try installing the app on your JB’d units. Then test it at the vendor’s place.

Gino · 14 years ago

New application and firmware released today.

Client Version 0.6.1 and Gmate Software Version 4.12.8. I didnn’t know what these would do because mine had been trouble-free. It remained trouble-free.

Name: slimzky · 14 years ago

gino, di ba humihina sound ng ipod mo pag connected si gmate?
ios5.0.1 ka din?

Gino · 14 years ago

iOS 5.0.1. Hindi. Well, hindi ko napapansin.

slimzky · 14 years ago

ah buti naman.. so far dalawa pa lang pala kami na may issue.. si “gmate user” di pa ulit nagpopost eh,

my solution is to quit Gmate and reconnect lang para lumakas ulit, pero bumabalik din eventually.

thanks,

Gino · 14 years ago

I did a clean installation. Update iOS 5.0.1. Set as New iPod. I did not Restore from backup because that will put back some system files. Then Jailbreak with redsnow b3. Installed Gmate. Then synced with iTunes. Any data lost by not Restoring from backup I extracted using iphone backup extractor.

slimzky · 14 years ago

I did a clean install too. I’ll try to remove SBS settings from Cydia. Hope it works this time..

thanks,

Gino · 14 years ago

I have SBSettings and it works fine. I don’t have a lot of hacks to minimize conflicts.

I suggest start clean. DO NOT RESTORE in iTunes. Set as new iPod/iPhone. Test the new iOS. Check sound with Youtube. JB . Install Gate. Have nothing in there except Gmate. Then test. If the problem persists then you know it is Gmate’s fault.

slimzky · 14 years ago

i restored my ipod and installed gmate only and i still got the same result. i texted my seller and according to him, this is an issue with ios5. he is also having the same issue but he said it works fine with his ios4. i rest my case.

thanks,

Adam Mar · 14 years ago

What’s the minimum iPod, version 4?
THNX

spiez · 14 years ago

can anyone give info on the duration of battery of itouch when using this unit?

Gino · 14 years ago

My year old iPod Touch 4 does 24 hours on phone standby only with minimal texting (less than 10 sms).

Subtract time when using wifi. A new iPod Touch can do 4-5 hours continuous wifi.

Games and Youtube drain even more power.

This is a charge when able affair.

Gino · 14 years ago

The Gmate itself does 48 hours under the same conditions ( standby of phone no gprs use).

spiez · 14 years ago

hi Gino,

Thanks a lot for the reply! I do a lot of text with occasional calls. How long do you think ipod battery will last?

anakti · 14 years ago

tanong po, pano pag hinde connected ung gmate sa itouch, marerecieved mo pa rin ba ung text pag nakaconnect na??

Annie · 14 years ago

yes..

Annie · 14 years ago

For your info. the regular price of gmate is 99USD so that would be 4300PHP from exclusive distributor na yun huh ng Skyroam talaga which is the founder of Gmate.So For those who are selling gmate lower than that will probably experience tech problems kasi hindi sila makakapagupdate ng firmware.. kasi nga fake at wala pa silang support.. Mura nga but still lugi naman kau kung may problema nabili niyo tapos hindi maaayos.

I got mine sa Netgear trading sa Philippines dealer daw sila from gmatephippines. naintindihan ko namn kung bakit mahal kasi insured naman ako na my one year warranty ako at may support talaga.

Gino · 14 years ago

Lumabas na update kahapon. Try updating then see if the problem persists. I had submitted some concerns before and they immediately incorporated in the next update. Ang galing ng support nila. Attentive sa user. Very professional. May online ticketing pa for support.

slimzky · 14 years ago

bumalik na sa dati after a couple restart sa gmate and ipodtouch..

slimzky · 14 years ago

the issue still persists

to all users who are having the same issue, i have raised the concern and I also created a thread at the Gmate Community

http://community.skyroam.com/viewtopic.php?pid=579#p579

Thanks!

slimzky · 14 years ago

To Yuga, Gmate, and to “Gmate user”, and all Gmate w/ipod 4g owners:

Napansin nyo din po ba yung slight decrease sa volume when playing music? tapos kapag ni-lock ko, o pinindot ko yung home button, medyo lalakas ulit tapos babalik na sa dati (decreased volume)

i am using ipod touch 4g , iOs 5.0.1

hindi ko napansin yung issue nung ios 4.2 pa ang gamit ko. sana makatulong kayo sa pag verify.

p.s.
when i disabled gmate, the sound volume turned back to normal.

while im typing this, nakikinig ako ng music using loudspeaker.
biglang may nagtext, at mas malakas pa ang SMS volume kesa music kaya narinig ko talaga.

siguro they did this on purpose???

thanks!

Gino · 14 years ago

I fixed it. After updating the iPod Touch 4 to iOS 5.0.1, I set it up as a New iPod. That did the trick. After JB and installing Gmate, Cydia continued to work.

The downside is I lost my camera roll. Anyone know how I can extract them from iTunes’ photo cache?

Gino · 14 years ago

Yuga, what Jailbreak tool did you use for iOS 5.0.1? Gmate crashes my Cydia on my iPod touch 4. However, Gmate continues to work fine.

Jem · 14 years ago

Sobrang Mahal sa gmatephilippines 5700 daw pag sa dealers, 5000 pag direct sa kanila :(

John · 14 years ago

i think its because they said that they have a 1 year warranty and official distributor..and walang problem daw sa support so far i’m okay it with them..i purchased it in installment plans kasi..though pwede nga makuha rin in cash :)

Keyr · 14 years ago

Kuya Abe, pwede ba tong mag text kahit saang Cellphone?

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 14 years ago

Yes, it can.

Marc · 14 years ago

Can we use an original ipod headset with MIC to avoid using the ‘inverted’ ipod workaround?

Kraken · 14 years ago

With This device you canot use any other Bluetooth device like Hand free on your phone, iPod or iPad
!!
For me ors a Very big lack…
Regards

Joseph · 14 years ago

Hi Abe, thanks for the reply. Checked out the M-fit website. Dami palang variations. Can you kindly state which one is yours? Is it just the leather case or the one with the stand?

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 14 years ago

Just the leather case lang po.

Gino · 14 years ago

It works on my ZTE V9. Internet would not work on stock rom. I needed to root to get internet working.

Five · 14 years ago

Cool, can this be use in a Samsung Galaxy S Wifi 5.0?

Gino · 14 years ago

What tool did you (Yuga) ise to Jailbreak ios 5.0.1? I am trying to isolate the problem with Cydia quitting.

Gino · 14 years ago

After installing Gmate in iOS 5.0.1 on iPod Touch 4, Cydia quits when adding source, login into account, and search. How is your experience?

Gmate works ok. It is just that it messes up ny Cydia.

I used a downloaded ipsw and Redsnow b3.

Sonofa · 14 years ago

@Romspl
Nakabaliktad… Nakaharap sa bibig mo yung camera… While nakaharap sa tenga mo yung speakers niya… Nahihiya nga ako minsan so I cover the whole iPod with my hands… Weird kasi tignan…

romspl · 14 years ago

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…

Sonofa · 14 years ago

@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..

Gmate User · 14 years ago

@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

spiez · 14 years ago

how long does ur battery last?

Gmate · 14 years ago

@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 http://www.gmatephilippines.com for more info and list of authorized dealers.

Sonofa · 14 years ago

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…

Name: · 14 years ago

spiez · 14 years ago

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

Sonofa · 14 years ago

I have used gmate when my iPod touch was 4.03
pero after update ayaw na mag install properly ng gmate app…

Gmate · 14 years ago

for any questions or inquiry you can email us at sa****@gmatephilippines.com

Nonoy · 14 years ago

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.

galaxy s2 · 14 years ago

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

Jc · 14 years ago

ah ..na gets ko na ^_^ hehehe

Jc · 14 years ago

ask ko lng ha. . hnd kac ako techie….
kahit nokia 2730classic lng phone ko and using iPod Touch .. pede?

Mao · 14 years ago

Sir Abe,

Can this be use in a Blackberry Playbook?

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 14 years ago

Once your Playbook has Android Market you can use this by installing the Android App.

benchmark · 14 years ago

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).

Joseph · 14 years ago

Abe, what’s the case on your Note?

Abe Olandres Editor-in-chief · 14 years ago

It’s called the MFit. Got it at Sim Lim in SG for SGD80.

iRasH · 14 years ago

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.

Ram · 14 years ago

This is cool! :) Thanks for the tip!

benchmark · 14 years ago

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.