Question regarding usage on laptops

[Enrico Mioso]

On Tue, Aug 22, 2023 at 09:59:30AM -0400, Stephen Conley wrote:
> Hello folks;
> 
> First, let me apologize if this is already answered.  It "feels like" a
> question that should already be answered, but I've read the docs, searched
> the mailing list archives, even read through the archives a bit ...  So I
> have to go on the assumption that it isn't a common question.
> 
> Anyway, my desire is to take a small what-we-used-to-call "netbook" sized
> laptop, such as one made by GPD, and basically turn it into a functional
> "cell phone" that can make and receive calls and SMSes using an m.2 internal
> card rather than some dangly dongle.
> 
> I am aware of, and own, both a Pinephone and a Pinephone Pro with keyboard
> case and this is pretty close to this, but the hardware has the worst
> "performance to battery life" ratio I've ever seen (almost no performance
> but burns power like crazy) and I would rather have something with a
> trackpad/tracknub interface instead of a touch screen.
> 
> Anyway, my questions are ...
> 
> 1. There is a ton of mention about modem cards and laptops for *data*,
> however I find almost no mention of calls/SMS on laptops (or the mentions
> are so dilluted I can't find them).  I think, theoretically, the same
> software that powers the Pinephone's ability to make/receive calls and SMS
> should "just work" on a laptop too, right?  And I believe that software is
> ModemManager which is why I'm posting here! :D

SMS is easy, voice calsl is a different story.
And ModemManager will help you manage them - and via purple-sms or mmcli itself youcan handle sms pretty well.
For voice calls - the thing is very modem device dependant.
Audio over USb is an option but then you might miss the software implementing that. If you have alsa PCM over I2S or something like that, things might be easier.
> 
> 2. For power saving reasons, I'd want the thing to be sleeping most of the
> time.  Is it possible for the modem to wake up the laptop on a call/SMS? 
> This may be dependent on hardware specifics, I know, but has anyone at least
> heard of this?  I can't find anything, anywhere, about this.
> 
> 3. Lastly ... has anyone out there done this already and has a
> recommendation for a successful combination of parts to assemble such a
> thing?  My current plan is to use a spare laptop I have for experimentation
> purposes, and once I have something working, find the smallest form factor
> laptop I can cram the card into :)
> 
> To elaborate on [3] -- I am interested in any hardware recommendations, even
> modems that are known to work particularly well, not just complete
> solutions.  I've heard SierraWireless cards are really well supported and to
> avoid the branded ones (i.e. the "Dell" versions and such).
> 
> 
> Thanks so much for your time in reading this, you're helping make a
> decade-or-so long dream into reality :)  If I'm able to get this to work, I
> will certainly do a write-up as to how I accomplished it so the knowledge
> can be passed along.
> 
> 
> - Steve
> 
> 


Anyone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks,
Enrico