Now that’s a walkie talkie: Bizarre new trend sees more people using their TABLETS as a phone

Tablet users have managed to annoy the world with their photo-taking habits – but this bizarre new trend could put even the most brazen photographer to shame.

A growing number of people are using their tablets in place of mobile phones to make calls, according to a new report.

The research found that an increasing number of people are buying devices with screens measuring 7 inches (17.8cm) with built-in phone capabilities.

According to the IDC Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker report, all of the call-enabled tablets in the report ran on Android, such as Samsung’s Tab range and the ASUS Fonepad.

‘This shift highlights the sustained interest among consumers, at least in emerging markets, to have a single mobile device for all their needs,’ said IDC analyst Avinash Sundaram.

‘Be it watching movies and soap operas, taking pictures, texting or making calls, even if the device has a huge 7 inches (17.8cm) screen on it.

‘It also helps that these devices are quite affordable, playing in the entry-to-mainstream price bands in most markets.’

Mr Sundaram expects the trend of Android tablets used as a single converged mobile device in emerging markets to continue to gain pace.