Most cell phones make lousy phones, in this regard. In fact, I haven't ever seen a GOOD cell phone in this regard. Anything that isn't shaped like a landline handset is pretty much s**t in this regard (even clamshells). And THAT would require the NIT to be a bit bigger.

Most people use a headset of some form (bluetooth, wired, whatever), and that renders the size/shape of the NIT itself completely irrelevant to the discussion of using it for making phone calls.

And, really, in this regard, it's already being used for phone calls (Gizmo and Skype). The argument that making phone calls on the NIT isn't viable is already refuted and wasted typing. The argument isn't "should we be able to make phone calls on the NIT" ... we already can. Answered and finished. The device's shape already works in this regard. Move on.

The argument is "which types of phone networks can we use for making those calls". Right now, we can use proprietary VOIP (Skype and Gizmo) and open VOIP (SIP). What's being asked for here is extending this to cover cellular/mobile voice networks.

Except that that's a huge straw man argument. It's almost completely irrelevant.

I have a Nokia E61i. I also have a T-Mobile contract. The two have nothing to do with eachother, other than the fact that I have my T-Mobile SIM in my E61i. Everything works (except the Euro 3G, obviously). Lots of people make GSM compliant devices that just need a SIM card. And the carriers will happily sell you a SIM card (prepaid card only, contract with a free or cheap phone that you can use for backup, etc.).

And I could have just as easily used it with an AT&T SIM card. With their pre-paid $20/30 days unlimited data option.

If a carrier wanted to support the device, sell it as a contract discounted phone, whatever, great. Bully for them. But it's not even remotely required.

(and, by the way, if the card was plugged directly into the NIT, it wouldn't be "tethering" so "anti-tether" plans wouldn't matter)

It's "The Way To Do It" because the options suck, not because it's the best possible option. No one "forgot" this, contrary to your condescending assertion. You seem to be forgetting, though, that there each possibility has pros and cons, and being limited to one option means that people who don't fit that one options pro/con list are left out in the cold (or with poor half-assed capabilities).

The same could be done with a Mini-PCI-Express module, or an ExpressCard slot -- you only have to re-buy the network interface, not the whole device.

And, let me get this straight... you're defending not having to re-buy your NIT by saying "I had to re-buy my phone". So, either way, you have to re-buy a device. But with a WWAN-NIT, you only have to carry _1_ device, instead of 2.

And "yet another carrier contract" -- you didn't have to do that with your phone? If you didn't, then you didn't get the discount. Same options if we're talking about a WWAN-NIT. You can buy the NIT off-contract and use your existing SIM card and service, no problem. If you buy on-contract, you get the discount.

Really, your arguments vary between condescending non-truths, moot statements, or self-contradictory statements that end up being the same with or without the WWAN inside the NIT.