• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

What's the big deal about whatsapp?

0

03bluecoupe

Guest
Facebook bought whatsapp for 19mil. So, what's the big deal about whatsapp? If you want to send messages, the receiver also has to have it. It costs $, albeit not much. It uses 3G or wifi...

So what? Using Google Voice and Messaging+GV. Free - text anyone whether they have the apps or not, uses WIFI.

I really don't understand the big deal? Anyone?
 
LOL, oops - million/billion - it's all the same when ya ain't got it. ;) Sorry 'bout that and thanks for the correction.

edit: FIXT original post.
 
Same... If your in the us, just text me. I'm not shy to give out my Google Voice number. For those outside the us, its actually hard to be in contact with them anyway because of the hour change.
 
I guess the big deal is that in some countries you still need to pay for SMS messages, and there are millions of users who needs that app. Another thing is you can send SMS to other countries almost free.
 
dibblebill said:
I don't know. I just use SMS.
Click to expand...

Given that I get "charged" for straight SMS with Tracfone, I like GV plus Messaging+GV. I stay WIFI connected whenever possible so that way the texting costs me nothing.

One of these days I've got to find a calling equiv that's free over WIFI. I know SKYPE is but both people have to have it installed. Gotta be something out there for free calling over VOIP, I just haven't taken the time to look.... yet :D
 
03bluecoupe said:
Given that I get "charged" for straight SMS with Tracfone, I like GV plus Messaging+GV. I stay WIFI connected whenever possible so that way the texting costs me nothing.

One of these days I've got to find a calling equiv that's free over WIFI. I know SKYPE is but both people have to have it installed. Gotta be something out there for free calling over VOIP, I just haven't taken the time to look.... yet :D
Click to expand...

Well you can use GrooveIP for a couple more months.

I'm hopeful that Hangouts will get VoIP calling integrated with it before the May 15 XMPP death.
 
03bluecoupe said:
Facebook bought whatsapp for 19mil. So, what's the big deal about whatsapp? If you want to send messages, the receiver also has to have it. It costs $, albeit not much. It uses 3G or wifi...

So what? Using Google Voice and Messaging+GV. Free - text anyone whether they have the apps or not, uses WIFI.

I really don't understand the big deal? Anyone?
Click to expand...

It's mainly the fact that literally anyone can get it - it's on pretty much every OS, works well, and you don't need a username/pin - just a phone number.
 
Ah, I hadn't considered international audiences I guess. Facebook must be planning a healthy price boost from the .99c/year intro if it's going to recoop it's 19B
 
03bluecoupe said:
Ah, I hadn't considered international audiences I guess. Facebook must be planning a healthy price boost from the .99c/year intro if it's going to recoop it's 19B
Click to expand...

It's all the WhatsApp user information FB bought as well. That's worth a lot to advertisers and other third parties. Probably WhatsApp goes free, but now has ads.
 
Well Facebook will most likely do away with the whole charging thing. Keeping it's motto "Free and always will be".

Also heard that WA users have quit using it due to "fear of privacy concerns". Hilarious.

Google should buy Kik instead, for oh so many reasons.
 
codesplice said:
Well you can use GrooveIP for a couple more months.

I'm hopeful that Hangouts will get VoIP calling integrated with it before the May 15 XMPP death.
Click to expand...

That will be sad when it dies. I used GrooveIP a lot for VOIP calling. I am not interested in using Hangouts, and Google's voice app is not very good only useful for SMS on my Google number.
 
TrikkJames said:
Actually you can keep using it. It just won't be on the Play store and won't get updates. I've invested in getting the apk file so I'm safe.
Click to expand...

Once Google cuts the XMPP, GrooveIP will no longer work. Sure you can keep the app on your device, but you won't be able to make calls with it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom