Please sign in to post.

WhatsAp

I’m trying to find a way to communicate with my family in the US while traveling in England. My mom has a cell phone but no Wi-Fi. Someone mentioned WhatsAp. If I use this, can my Mom receive my texts? Rest of family has Wi-Fi so not an issue with them.

Posted by
43 posts

I think WhatsApp should work. I use Signal, it has always worked for me.

Posted by
5687 posts

If you're frugal, install the Google Voice app on your phone, so you can make free calls to actual phone numbers, even landlines. If you don't have cell phone service in the UK, you can make calls from your phone even while you are on WiFi.

Your mom won't know how you are calling her - she will just get calls like any other calls she receives. But it's possible the calls won't show your phone number (or one she will recognize) on her caller ID, so while you are in the UK, she may just have to get used to answering some "unknown caller" IDs on her phone which ordinarily might be spam.

You can do the same thing using Skype (another app) instead of Google Voice, but Skype isn't free to call regular phones like Google Voice is. You have to buy credit in $10 blocks to make calls on Skype (a few cents per minute so still cheap). Skype might be easier for you, though.

Either way, you can set this all up now - try Google Voice and/or Skype - and try making calls to your mom now from the US. Put your phone temporarily in Airplane Mode, then turn on WiFi (assume you use the phone where you have WiFi e.g. at home). Then call your mom with Google Voice or Skype, see how it works. It will work exactly the same way in the UK as long as you are on WiFi. Your mom won't have to install any app or change anything on her phone.

Posted by
588 posts

I’ve been using WhatsApp for the last two years to communicate with travelers I’ve met all over the world. It works with any internet connection - WiFi (free) or your cellular (data charges may apply depending on your plan). The person with whom you want to communicate must have the app on their device also. It uses your (and their) current phone number. All messages populate through the app. It’s easy. You may want to download and use the app before traveling to experience how well it works.

Yes, she will receive your texts, photos, etc.

Do not call her through the app unless her device is connected to WiFi. That may incur significant expenses.

Posted by
11052 posts

We were told by a Sicilian rental agent that we needed WhatsApp to communicate with him about meeting time, etc. Everyone seemed to use it in Italy. Now I use it to keep in touch with Mexican and Greek friends. Works well!

Posted by
2613 posts

WhatsAp is my favorite. It’s fast and easy and pictures send way faster than via text message AND the pictures don’t get rejected for being too big to send. I even send little videos via WhatsAp.

Posted by
5362 posts

It’s WhatsApp (two P’s), not WhatsAp. Just clarifying so that no one gets the wrong thing.

I’m pretty sure the entire world exciter US uses WhatsApp. I use it all the time.

Posted by
6113 posts

I use WhatsApp to communicate in various ways with friends and family all over the globe. Never had any issues. It’s a standard method of communication for my brother in Australia.

The one thing you need to be aware of in the longer term is that it stores all photos and videos received again in your standard photos folder. This has clogged up my iPhone’s capacity and this folder needs to be edited regularly, particularly videos. The photos and videos remain in WhatsApp.

Posted by
2482 posts

My mom has a cell phone but no Wi-Fi.

Is it a smartphone that can connect to the internet either via Wifi or mobile data? If yes, then WhatsApp can be installed. If it's not a smartphone then WhatsApp can't be installed.

Posted by
6264 posts

OK, I think you've convinced me to try WhatsApp. I was reluctant, since you could only call people who had it installed, but James E's comment

Ive found that friends, guides, hotels, restaurants, etc. All use WhatsApp. Been a life saver.

changes my mind. I'll play with that this weekend.

I do have two questions about it: What happens if I try to call someone who doesn't have WhatsApp on their device? My phone is locked, so this may be my only option.

And second, can I have it installed on more than one device? On our last trip to Europe, I had Skype installed on my tablet for calling folks in the States; can I have WhatsApp on the tablet? I'm not sure why I would need it though, the app I mean, as long as I have the phone. I will still be taking my tablet; I find typing for emailing or internet browsing difficult on the phone.

Thanks.

Posted by
2482 posts

Both devices must have WhatApp installed - caller and recipient. You can't call landlines.

You can have WhatsApp on a tablet if the tablet has a SIM.

You can also use WhatsApp on a laptop/desktop browser.

Posted by
5503 posts

With Whatsapp, if someone calls me and I didn't have wifi or cellular data at that point is the message saved until I have wifi?

Posted by
2482 posts

When you reconnect to the internet your WhatsApp will show a missed call notification; any messages sent to you will appear.

Reading some of the previous comments make WhatsApp sound as though it is the perfect solution, but it only works if both parties have it on their devices.

You get free phone calls and messages over the internet but you can't call every phone number. I use it and it's great but it has limitations. Oh, and it's owned by Zuckerberg.

Posted by
247 posts

Mom will also need Whatsapp installed on her phone.. you can use google voice to send messages directly to your mom's phone as a regular text message

Posted by
4495 posts

I'm not sure what the problem was in the OP. Mom's phone can receive texts and photos via cellular service, WhatsApp doesn't gain her anything.

The advantage of WhatsApp is that it makes calls and sends and receives texts, videos, and photos via WIFI at no international charge and no data usage, and will use cellular services with the respective charges as a back up.

Posted by
5687 posts

Yes, you can use Google Voice to send text messages and make free voice calls to US numbers - so mom wouldn't have to do anything new on her phone to receive these calls or texts.

Posted by
4495 posts

If you're frugal, install the Google Voice app on your phone, so you can make free calls to actual phone numbers, even landlines

I have tried using Google Voice for international calls and it wants money, although domestic calls are free. WhatsApp has free international calling.

Posted by
17626 posts

My TMobile switches to WiFi calling when ever WiFi is available. So, free calls. But I also like some of the file sharing advantages of WhatsApp. Oh, for some reason Telegram seems to be the program of choice with the Ukrainians I talk to. Similar to WhatsApp.

Posted by
5687 posts

Tom_MN:

I have tried using Google Voice for international calls and it wants money, although domestic calls are free. WhatsApp has free international calling.

Yes, international calls are not free - only calls to US numbers are free. As with Skype, international calls with Google Voice are a few cents per minute, but you have to buy credit in $10 blocks too I believe.

Posted by
3941 posts

anita, yes, she can receive them but will need to have WhatsApp installed on her phone, as well as you on yours. The message goes from WhatsApp to WhatsApp, not WhatsApp to regular text. WhatsApp will work on either WiFi or data (cellular service). This may not be your easiest answer, depending upon her capability.

jules, yes. Once the recipient gets to WiFi (or some form of cell service), they will get the message, photo, etc. As long as you are sending through WhatsApp.

Posted by
490 posts

I use Whatsapp all the time at home and away. Its got a cool feature where you can create a group - so you can send message and many people can see it . I hardly ever call without checking that the time is convenient via a message -so tend to do it all on WA rather than switching between text and phone .

However the other party must be capable of using and installing the app. If they only have a phone number I use Skype - its very,very cheap to call - but you do need to buy credit