Thoughts about my free iphone app - WhatsApp
May 10, 2019, 4:51 pm
#316
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: London
Posts: 17,007
I find myself using plain old iMessages and Signal more often now. Still plenty of WhatsApp users around though.
May 11, 2019, 5:08 am
#318
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
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It depends who you communicate with. For me, my business and personal communications in Europe and Africa are totally dominated by Whatsapp. The USA less so, but still a lot there too. Much more iMessage in the US, but that's where the bulk of the iPhones are.
May 11, 2019, 6:52 am
#319
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 916
IMessage and FaceTime would be the standard if it was open to Android and Windows PCs,
but it's not , so What's app gets used.
And to believe that WhatsApp is secure when it's owned by Facebook is a joke ,
Best to believe that None of these message services are secure , backdoors are probably there and Russian hackers are very good !
but it's not , so What's app gets used.
And to believe that WhatsApp is secure when it's owned by Facebook is a joke ,
Best to believe that None of these message services are secure , backdoors are probably there and Russian hackers are very good !
May 11, 2019, 8:48 am
#320
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
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May 11, 2019, 11:36 am
#321
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,605
May 11, 2019, 4:13 pm
#323
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,345
I always find it odd when dealing with people in the US who are not that familiar with Whatsapp, as for at least the last 5 years, I would say that that other than China and the UAE, where using it is a pain, it is pretty much THE STANDARD for communications almost anywhere I go.
May 11, 2019, 9:16 pm
#324
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SNA
Programs: Bonvoy LTTE/AMB, AmEx Plat, National EE, WN A-List, CLEAR+, Covid-19
Posts: 4,963
We outsourced some of our grunt work to BLR; WA is huge there and all of my Indian co-workers use it as their primary comms app and we even run meetings on it.
Before then, I'd had an account but never used it as in the States SMS and data are plentiful.
Before then, I'd had an account but never used it as in the States SMS and data are plentiful.
May 13, 2019, 10:23 am
#327
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EP; WN CP;UA SILVER; MARRIOTT TITANIUM; HH DIAMOND; IHG PLAT; RADISSON PLAT; HYATT GLOBAL
Posts: 1,938
WhatsApp provides easy and free communication via wifi, not needing to use minutes or data. I don't think you need a cell plan, just a cell and wifi.
In the last year I have traveled to a handful of countries (Russia, Chile, Canada, Jordan, Colombia, Mexico) where I have communicated with uber drivers, guides, hotels, air bnb hosts, made dinner reservations, etc via whats up. It is now a business tool. After gps, I think whats up has been the second most useful tool when travelling.
I am fortunate to have T-Mobile international plan (the free one), but my travel friends and family did not have roaming or unlimited minutes, so we communicated via whatsup when they had wifi, huge convenience, this saved us in Disney and Russia World Cup. My friends met some girls and communicated via WA.
I have multiple groups, and we communicate weekly.
Another useful feature, I was in Mexico during a wedding, and the bride created a wedding group for all guests and used that to message us updates, photos, etc.
Recently, I have noticed that video calls, and voice calls are significantly better quality, less dropped calls.
I guess if you don't travel internationally too much, or most of your friends are in the US and have I-phones, you don't use whatsup.
May 13, 2019, 5:27 pm
#328
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 10,685
For intl traveller we no longer have to worry about keeping in touch with the need to send people our local numbers.
Your WhatsApp acct stays with your handset no matter what SIM is in there.
Your WhatsApp acct stays with your handset no matter what SIM is in there.
May 14, 2019, 1:01 am
#329
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,605
Whoops!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48262681
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48262681
Hackers were able to remotely install surveillance software on phones and other devices using a major vulnerability in messaging app WhatsApp, it has been confirmed.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, said the attack targeted a "select number" of users, and was orchestrated by "an advanced cyber actor".
A fix was rolled out on Friday.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Facebook, said the attack targeted a "select number" of users, and was orchestrated by "an advanced cyber actor".
A fix was rolled out on Friday.
May 14, 2019, 1:03 am
#330
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Already updated.
I've not used WA for voice that much.
Viber is also a good choice if you need to call real numbers. Really dirt cheap calling rates. I bought $5 credit through the iOS App. Store over a year ago and I still have almost $4 left.
They also offer a Viber number, which could be based in any country. But it's not as good a deal, they want like $5 a month for it.