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What's the big deal about whatsapp?

Codegerm said:
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.
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Yes, I hear that in May, something with GrooveIP will no longer work. Negates my idea of using a tablet as a phone. I love my Moto G tho.
 
codesplice said:
... that's kind of the entire point of GrooveIP ;)
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Why yes it is the entire point of it, aside from having text capabilities but that capability doesn't even work well.

Do you take me for a fool? I have Groove IP so that when I actually need to make a call (rarely apparently) I can without looking for another phone to call from. It just takes one step away and makes my life easier but hell it's not necessary.

Yes I rarely find use in outbound calling. So what if I have the app? I thought calling might have been more prominent which is why I downloaded it. But apparently it's rare.

Try being nicer next time? Try not to make me look like a fool? I don't think I needed to explain my entire Groove IP situation to everyone so making the statement "That kinda is the entire point of Groove IP" just sounds like you need someone to push around.

I know what Groove IP is for. I'm not a dumba$$.
 
TrikkJames said:
Why yes it is the entire point of it, aside from having text capabilities but that capability doesn't even work well.

Do you take me for a fool? I have Groove IP so that when I actually need to make a call (rarely apparently) I can without looking for another phone to call from. It just takes one step away and makes my life easier but hell it's not necessary.

Yes I rarely find use in outbound calling. So what if I have the app? I thought calling might have been more prominent which is why I downloaded it. But apparently it's rare.

Try being nicer next time? Try not to make me look like a fool? I don't think I needed to explain my entire Groove IP situation to everyone so making the statement "That kinda is the entire point of Groove IP" just sounds like you need someone to push around.

I know what Groove IP is for. I'm not a dumba$$.
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I'm sorry, I truly did not intend for my comment to come across as mocking or attacking you. I used to use GrooveIP heavily but haven't in the past six months or so; I didn't even realize that it included any sort of texting capability, so I was honestly confused and wrongly assumed that the app's sole function was for calling. Again, please accept my sincerest apologies as I was clearly mistaken. :)
 
codesplice said:
I'm sorry, I truly did not intend for my comment to come across as mocking or attacking you. I used to use GrooveIP heavily but haven't in the past six months or so; I didn't even realize that it included any sort of texting capability, so I was honestly confused and wrongly assumed that the app's sole function was for calling. Again, please accept my sincerest apologies as I was clearly mistaken. :)
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You're not really at fault here. My back has been killing me since last night as if I broke a segment of spine or some sort. I shouldn't have vented on you. So I'm sorry.

By the way, noticed you live very close to me lol.
 
sfbloodbrother said:
Yes, I hear that in May, something with GrooveIP will no longer work. Negates my idea of using a tablet as a phone. I love my Moto G tho.
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May 15th from what I read. GrooveIP has that listed in the apps listing on the play store. I used the app fairly often to make calls over my wifi. I will have to find another option when it goes away.

The Whatsapp didn't look useful to me, and now will look even less useful with Facebook having it.
 
Codegerm said:
May 15th from what I read. GrooveIP has that listed in the apps listing on the play store. I used the app fairly often to make calls over my wifi. I will have to find another option when it goes away.

The Whatsapp didn't look useful to me, and now will look even less useful with Facebook having it.
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I saw on the GrooveIP Play Store listing that they were in the process of looking into alternative VoIP providers, and their Facebook indicates they've reached a decision:
Sorry for the lack of status updates, I should have posted this earlier. We've selected a new provider and have been working on updating GrooVe IP. There should be a public beta available late March or early April.
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I'm curious to see what that provider ends up being, and how it will impact the app.

Related: I see also that WhatsApp will be adding voice-calling capabilities by the end of the year.
 
Apparently Google was engaged in somewhat of a bidding war with Fbook for Whatsapp. Wonder if they really wanted it or if they just wanted to drive the price up. Probably didn't really want it, but didn't want Fbook to have it.
 
Gmash said:
Apparently Google was engaged in somewhat of a bidding war with Fbook for Whatsapp. Wonder if they really wanted it or if they just wanted to drive the price up. Probably didn't really want it, but didn't want Fbook to have it.
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I read somewhere that Google approached the Whatsapp guy after FB and basically told him to go with Google. He didn't in the end, something about it seeming like Google only offered to keep it out of Zuck's hands, and that Zuck offered a seat on the board of directors too.
 
codesplice said:
I saw on the GrooveIP listing that they were in the process of looking into alternative VoIP providers, and their [URL="https://www.facebook.com/snrb.labs"]Facebook indicates they've reached a decision:


I'm curious to see what that provider ends up being, and how it will impact the app.

Related: I see also that WhatsApp will be adding voice-calling capabilities by the end of the year.
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Hopefully we will still have good service with GrooveIP.

With FB having WhatsApp, I would not use it for VOIP. I feel FB wants too much personal info as it is. I certainly don't want them having my phone number.
 
Mehta23 said:
I read somewhere that Google approached the Whatsapp guy after FB and basically told him to go with Google. He didn't in the end, something about it seeming like Google only offered to keep it out of Zuck's hands, and that Zuck offered a seat on the board of directors too.
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Some time ago, Google offered to pay WhatsApp some sum of money if WhatsApp would inform Google if any company were to begin talks about acquiring WhatsApp. WhatsApp turned Google down.

When Google got wind that Facebook was in talks to buy WhatsApp, Google made an offer to buy WhatsApp. Google was actually willing to outbid Facebook. In the end, WhatsApp decided to take Facebook's offer because Facebook actually wanted WhatsApp where as Google only wanted Facebook (or anyone else) to not have WhatsApp.
 
Aside from making calls over internet (skype)*, never seen the need for all these third party apps. My phone has all the necessary modes of communication built in. Never truly understood why people get sucked in by Facebook, Whatsapp, etc etc etc. Always seen Facebook as something sinister (a front for CIA / FBI data mining) & now Whatsapp is owned by Facebook. Quelle surprise!!!

*Don't need calls over internet, when my provider gives plenty of airtime anyway!
 
!on said:
Never truly understood why people get sucked in by Facebook, Whatsapp, etc etc etc.
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The two really aren't comparable.

As mentioned previously, Whatsapp is a platform-agnostic messaging solution that's not dependent on a mobile network i.e. works well over wifi connections. It's like SMS on steriods. :)
 
!on said:
Aside from making calls over internet (skype)*, never seen the need for all these third party apps. My phone has all the necessary modes of communication built in. Never truly understood why people get sucked in by Facebook, Whatsapp, etc etc etc. Always seen Facebook as something sinister (a front for CIA / FBI data mining) & now Whatsapp is owned by Facebook. Quelle surprise!!!

*Don't need calls over internet, when my provider gives plenty of airtime anyway!
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Presumably your included airtime doesn't include international calls, so you might need Skype, or another VOIP anyway. I do. :)
 
Yeah, I think international requirements is where these things come into play. There's free sms (via wifi) software out there that doesn't require the other party to install anything so if you don't need international support, whatsapp is useless as is skype unless you make a lot of calls and don't have an unlimited plan. (at least I think... ;-) )
 
I generally use FB messenger for non-SMS chatting. If they're close enough acquaintances that we would need a method of chatting outside of SMS, we're almost certainly already friends on FB....so that makes Whatsapp fairly pointless to me.
 
I could ask the same thing about BlackBerry Messenger. tons of Android users post their screenshots and most of them have a BBM notification icon on their status bar. are there that many family members/ friends still holding out on BlackBerry phones that necessitate the need for their Android family and friends to use BBM? i thought BB was long gone by now except for a few dinosaurs...i just see zero point for BBM on Android. unless you actually have a family member with a BB where having BBM for Android is the only way to chat with them. but even then that's a hell of a niche market isn't it?
 
nickdalzell said:
I could ask the same thing about BlackBerry Messenger. tons of Android users post their screenshots and most of them have a BBM notification icon on their status bar. are there that many family members/ friends still holding out on BlackBerry phones that necessitate the need for their Android family and friends to use BBM? i thought BB was long gone by now except for a few dinosaurs...i just see zero point for BBM on Android. unless you actually have a family member with a BB where having BBM for Android is the only way to chat with them. but even then that's a hell of a niche market isn't it?
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I still have friends that have a BlackBerry. Oddly enough I never used BBM even when I had a BlackBerry. I use regular SMS to chat with them, or email. Most IM apps are almost useless for me now, so I never would use whatsapp.
 
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