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Re: What's App for free messaging
[Re: LauraTheTshirtGal]
#51061
04/20/2015 08:48 AM
04/20/2015 08:48 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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Does Viber or Whatsapp send sms messages? As in, standard text messages that do not require the other person to have the app?
Incoming text messages are free. There is a fee for outgoing messages.
If you text to/from Apple you can use imessage (standard messageing app) over wifi. The one person I text with frequently that is not on imessage is my youngest daughter. I use facebook messenger with her. My fallback is our LIME prepaid phone.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: What's App for free messaging
[Re: RickG]
#51062
04/20/2015 09:45 AM
04/20/2015 09:45 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
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I'm in IT, so I'm always in email so maybe that's why it is such a default for me, but since everyone seems to have email on their phones, why not just use email instead of texting?
Matt
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Re: What's App for free messaging
[Re: Winterstale]
#51066
04/21/2015 08:08 AM
04/21/2015 08:08 AM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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Google Hangouts is what I use for work via wifi/Digicel router. Hangout does not show a caller id when you make a call, but it is quite easy to do wifi calling. Whatsapp is what we end up using when we're working with an international team in Europe, India and China.
Winterstale, I haven't seen Viber anywhere else, but it looks like its the chat app embedded in a lot of games.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: What's App for free messaging
[Re: RickG]
#51067
04/21/2015 10:14 PM
04/21/2015 10:14 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
jbuch02
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 397
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Once again, applications like this are hugely confusing.
Whatsapp is one of 100s of Instant Messaging Clients, Viber, mentioned here, is another.
All of these apps are broadly classified as Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) services although these particular apps are for short messages carried over the Internet (WiFi). To utilize the apps, you have to have an internet connection.
SMS (Short messaging Services) is a standardized format for phones using 3g/4g/LTE transmission protocols. To use SMS texting, you have to have a connection with a phone service that provides 3g/4g/LTE data service. Apps like whatsapp and Viber don't cross over to 3g/4g/LTE data services.
Buying a plan like ATT Passport (or any international calling plan for any voice/data provider - Sprint, Verizon, etc.) allows you access to international phone and data networks at a reduced charge. If you don't have an international calling/data plan and you connect to an international phone/data service, you are "roaming" and subject to all the excess fees your carrier charges.
Thus, voice/data services and WiFi services are distinctly different. For the purposes of this discussion, if you have a WiFi connection, you can communicate via apps like what'sapp with others who also have a wifi connection AND have the same app as you do. If you want to use SMS texting on your smart phone, you must have access to a local data network (Service provider). You can get this in a number of ways. (1) Buy a plan from your phone service provider that reduces the cost of doing that by "roaming," (2)Buy a Sim card for your "unlocked" phone and a data and calling plan from Digicel. There are other options but to keep it simple here are two.
Here's what I do with ATT: In the BVI you can buy an unlimited calling plan for just this region. It is $30/month. You can call or SMS text between phones in the US and phones in the BVI. I have a Digicel Mobile Hot Spot and a 3gigabyte Data Plan. This gives all my devices (phone and tablets) access to the internet via Digicel's 3G network. I have Viber on my Windows 8 phone. I find I rarely use it.
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Re: What's App for free messaging
[Re: jbuch02]
#51069
04/22/2015 09:44 AM
04/22/2015 09:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545 Here and There
rita_irvine
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,545
Here and There
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I have ATT as well. I'm going down for a month this summer. I have always done the International calling plan. While it reduces the cost it is still pricey. How do you get the BVI only version @ $30.00? Do you do it ahead of time or when you get there?
Rita It is better to be happy than it is to be right
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