great app called Viber

[jme]

Has anyone else discovered an app called Viber?

It's free, and allows free texting and calls anywhere in the world to anyone else having the app. When you download it, it automatically syncs with your own contact list, then shows who in your list already has it.

Has good reviews and I like the free part.

I already see that another TUGGER has it, someone on my contact list.

 

[BevL]

Hmm, just took a quick look and it might be just the trick if I had my kids and a few friends download it. Would work for when any of us are across the line in the US without the huge roaming fees we pay.

Thanks

 

[puppymommo]

Love It

I have been using Viber for almost 2 months while my daughter has been on a semester abroad in Europe. It works great. The only drawback is you have to have wifi available to use it. The first 2 weeks DD was there, she did not have wifi in her dorm. So the only place she could use it was at school. That wasn't optimal. Now that she has wifi in her dorm it is wonderful. She was even able to use it on the train in Germany. We mostly text but it is nice to have a phone call now and then.

The other thing we did to save money is unlock her iPhone (has to be off contract and paid off) and use it with a German simcard. That is what all the international students at her university are doing and that it how they are keeping in contact with each other.

 

[willowglener]

Been using it for years. It works really well worldwide.

 

[Joe33426]

I've used Viber, but think that Skype has better voice quality and is equally free if both users have the app installed.

The way that I've used Skype for lately is that right before I go abroad I sign up for the US calling plan ($2.99/month) and that allows you to call US based numbers for free as long as you have data. Data can be WiFi, but also 4G/3G. I pop in a local SIM card in my phone when I hit the ground in the other country and I effectively have free calling to the US anywhere.

 

[Free2Roam]

On my last trip out of the US, I used Google Hangouts with my Google Voice number and I was able to call any number back home at no charge (over wifi). Not restricted to Hangouts users... even let me call land-line phones. Share your your Google Voice number and folks back home can call/text you too. I have a couple voice numbers (multiple Google accounts). Also use it on my Samsung tablet.

 

[KauaiMark]

This was the only way I could keep in contact with my sister when she moved to Belize. She was there for about a year and a half before she moved back the states.

It worked very well, had no problems with it, except for some intermittent internet service area problems where she lived on the island.

 

[GetawaysRus]

So I confess, I'm not a teenager any more. It's not so easy keeping up with all this tech.

Can someone explain the difference between Viber and What'sApp and Skype?

I used an Android phone. It would be a nice feature if I could send/receive a text message or make a phone call while traveling (USA or international) using a hotel's wifi. Is that what these apps allow you to do?

 

[Mosca]

So I confess, I'm not a teenager any more. It's not so easy keeping up with all this tech.

Can someone explain the difference between Viber and What'sApp and Skype?

I used an Android phone. It would be a nice feature if I could send/receive a text message or make a phone call while traveling (USA or international) using a hotel's wifi. Is that what these apps allow you to do?

That is exactly what these apps do, allow you to text and call using wifi (or cellular data instead of cellular voice).

Not too long ago WhatsApp added voice calling, which makes Viber and WhatsApp functionally equal. We use WhatsApp exclusively to communicate with our daughter in Chile.

We use Skype for the planned video calls, even though it will do text and voice only calls. WhatsApp just seems to have a smaller load; it works the same as texting or calling. Most people don't stay logged in to Skype, but WhatsApp is always there.

 

[GetawaysRus]

I looked at both Viber and What'sApp. Do I understand correctly that you can only send messages and make phone calls to individuals who are using that same app. In other words, you can't text someone on the Verizon network if they aren't using the app, and you can't telephone someone (on their landline, for example) who isn't using the app. Is this right, or did I misunderstand?

My Mom is elderly, and I'd love to be able to reach her in case of emergency if I were traveling. But she doesn't have a smartphone. She has an old old basic flip phone plus her home landline phone.