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al4629740Flag for United States of America

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What tablet will help accomplish the task of...

I need to get several tablets that will allow kids to Text, Email and surf the net.  Since we have to purchase an excessive amount, I need to know if all tablets do the basic job.

Will a kindle accomplish all these functions?  If we need to have the kids text their mentors, how would they do this if everyone is carrying an Iphone and some are carrying Androids, Windows Phones?
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Paul MacDonald
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Tablets don't, in and of themselves, text.  That's a phone function.  You can add third party software that will EMULATE texting, but that's the best you can do in that regard.

Almost all tablets will let you send/receive e-mail and browse the Internet.  The early models of the Kindle were strictly for reading books and other print content so they would be poor candidates for what you're trying to accomplish.  I believe the more recent iterations of the Kindle (Fire, etc) are better equiped.

That said, many Android tablets can be had reasonably inexpensively ($200 and less) and will do what you want.  iPads will too, but tend to be more expensive.  Microsoft also has a tablet, but it's pretty expensive for just browsing the Internet.

If you have to have texting, you have to have a phone, and the cellular service to go along with it.  If that's the path you're taking you still have the choice among Android, Apple, and Microsoft.  For your purposes, they'll all function equally so set a price point and just go shopping.
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ASKER

What types of third-party applications will allow texting over Wi-Fi?
That will depend on the device and the operating system.  A quick Google search turns up this list.
Kindle
And Android
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Paul MacDonald
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