Is there such a thing: texting question

[GalaxyS2Kent]

I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 (Android of course) in the UK. My grand-daughter in the U.S. has an Apple Smartphone (not sure of the exact model but I know she loves talking to "Siri"). I'd like to be able to text her (her communication mode of choice apparently) and NOT pay international rates. Someone said they thought there was an app for this but didn't know the name. Also it may be difficult since we are different operating systems.

Can anyone tell me if this is possible to do? If so, how please? I'll need to tell her the app for her to get.

Thanks.

 

[SteveyAsp]

Try WhatsApp

 

[nicka3200]

Google Hangouts works well across different platforms.

 

[chanchan05]

Several actually: Whatsapp, Viber, Line, WeChat, Kakao. Heck even Facebook chat can be used as an alternative.

 

[boathead]

don't know about international rates, but i have never had a problem with texting my daughter who has an iphone. i personally use talkatone and sometimes the native messaging app.

 

[Hordriss]

Somebody recommended Viber to me. I've never used it myself, but it is apparently very good.

 

[gtbarry]

I recommend you look into Hangouts, Skype and Whatsapp. All are free and crossplatform (whatsapp is free for one year then $1/year thereafter)

All three can do free international texting when you have an Internet connection. Skype has to be launched and running to work. Meanwhile Whatsapp and Hangouts will appear to run in the background and you don't have to worry about launching the program and shutting it down.

Skype and Hangouts can do video calls - meanwhile Whatsapp can only do video messages.

Skype and Hangouts can work on the desktop as well as your mobile phone and will sync all conversations. So you can have a conversation on your phone and switch to your computer, start on your computer and then grab your phone and continue there if you have to leave, etc. Whatsapp is mobile only.

So if you use your computer a lot and are not a heavy phone user, try Hangouts and Skype first.

But perhaps you should mention these three to her and see if she already has one (probably does) so that you can just integrate with what she already has of the three.

 

[GalaxyS2Kent]

Thanks everyone. I've now emailed her and asked her to download What's App.