JohnM Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Hi all, quite a particular question. For those of you in an international ldr. What do you use to communicate? We both have android mobile phones so have been using nimbuzz to IM chat and send files and messages etc. It's a bit unreliable though so wondering what others use. Has to use data really as texts or calls are quite pricey. Sometimes use Facebook, but is mobile chat is truly terrible.
HeavenOrHell Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Mostly msn and skype online but not on our phones, I only have a cheap phone anyway so I can't So we only use them for ordinary texts. Not sure if your question is purely about using 'chatting' via mobile phone. Aside from online stuff we both have cheap international phone deals, and talk every night, calling him is cheaper than calling someone in my own town. Fb chat in any shape or form is rubbish Hi all, quite a particular question. For those of you in an international ldr. What do you use to communicate? We both have android mobile phones so have been using nimbuzz to IM chat and send files and messages etc. It's a bit unreliable though so wondering what others use. Has to use data really as texts or calls are quite pricey. Sometimes use Facebook, but is mobile chat is truly terrible.
Citizen Erased Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Yahoo messenger. Both for at home on the laptop and when I'm out on my iPhone, the app is quite good. Pyro doesn't have an iPhone though so uses some Yahoo mobile thingo and it seems to work well. We don't call each other, we talk through Skype.
Pianiste Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 I don't use it personally but a lot of my friends use an application called WhatsApp, both for national and international mobile chatting.
Cathster Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 We both use WhatsApp for texting, as we both have phones with internet connection so it doesn't cost us a penny. We also both have Skype on our phones, but I can only call him when I have wifi, and we don't even bother with Skype chat. If you've both got Androids I'd recommend giving WhatsApp a try.
Author JohnM Posted May 25, 2011 Author Posted May 25, 2011 Well its mostly a question of what way we can communicate best. Essentially over an instant messenger. New Zealand doesn't have the best coverage. I have a reasonable deal for calls which means like $1.50 to connect and then it uses her inclusive mins, which she doesn't use anyway. Would like to use Skype mobile but mobile data connection combined I imagine with weak hardware phones means it just doesn't work. I do use Skype for calls and video chat when I can use it. I didn't bring my laptop with me, kind of regret that now, but I didn't think I would have room to carry it in my backpack etc. I'll give whatsapp a look and see how that functions. Nimbuzz serves my needs as it chats in realtime as well as relaying messages when tIe other is online, it also sends multimedia well. BUt connection seems to drop a lot so want a backup really. THanks for your replies so far, didn't expect them to arrive so quick, this part of the forum can sometimes be slow.
creighton0123 Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Skype for android can be somewhat stable, but requires you actually use your data plan (can't tether or use Skype over wifi for phone calls). Currently, you can only make voice calls via Skype-to-Skype, but gives you the option of: 1. Video calls using same account when at a computer 2. IM 3. Call directly from Skype to telephone if needed. The Android phone if video enabled, can be used to record and upload videos to youTube (make a private account) for your SO. Can you have someone ship your laptop to you? How long will you be abroad?
Author JohnM Posted May 25, 2011 Author Posted May 25, 2011 Only got another ten weeks to go now. I have used Skype to call using WiFi, it wasn't great. Data signal just isn't reliable enough to use for Skype. Tried it before I left home also. I just don't think our phones are up to it. I know a lot of HTC wildfire users have publicized just how bad it is. The youtube idea is a very good idea actually. We send photos a lot and have started sending each other sound clips. The problem with videos was finding something to send them over. I made one for her birthday last week which is over 30mb so hopefully I can use YouTube to do that over my mobile.
creighton0123 Posted May 25, 2011 Posted May 25, 2011 Only got another ten weeks to go now. I have used Skype to call using WiFi, it wasn't great. Data signal just isn't reliable enough to use for Skype. Tried it before I left home also. I just don't think our phones are up to it. I know a lot of HTC wildfire users have publicized just how bad it is. The youtube idea is a very good idea actually. We send photos a lot and have started sending each other sound clips. The problem with videos was finding something to send them over. I made one for her birthday last week which is over 30mb so hopefully I can use YouTube to do that over my mobile. Mobile doesn't matter much. The upload can take a few minutes or an hour - Android platform doesn't really care. YouTube has a 10 minute limit on the video, though.
Author JohnM Posted May 26, 2011 Author Posted May 26, 2011 That's good, its only about 6mins. Downloaded Whatsapp, really like how it works and how it looks, also how you can customize it. Going to give it a run, only downside so far has been that it compresses files sent so a photo went down from 1mb to 70kb.
yaamaanu Posted May 29, 2011 Posted May 29, 2011 We're using bbm and facetime (if I have wifi). We used to skype but skype's video is terrible esp if d connection is bad
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