Keeping in Contact via Video Calls

brue
brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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edited March 2020 in General Chat #1

I thought this was excellent social contact advice from the BBC. Just in case you haven't used WhatsApp on Android or iPhone or Skype this takes you through the process very clearly. Keep scrolling down the page.

Here's the BBC >LINK<

Good luck with keeping in touch with your pals and family.  👴🧓👩‍🦰👨‍🦰👶👩‍🚀

Comments

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,061
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    edited March 2020 #2

    We have installed Skype on Margaret's laptop as it has a camera. I might think about doing the same on our smart phones as well. It is a useful as a cross platform app. 

    David

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited March 2020 #3

    WhatsApp is good because you can send messages, photos and videos straight from your phone and pass them on to friends and family if needed. smile

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987
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    edited March 2020 #4

    I might be wrong, it has been known wink

    Does 'WhatsApp' not use phone data only, even if installed on your Windows desktop it is secondary and insists the mobile being the prominent source. Some might have limited data allowance on the phone but much more on their main desktop/home provider, then 'Skype' would be better or even Facebook 'Messenger'.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited March 2020 #5

    If you look at the link it gives a basic explanation about smartphone usage via Android or iPhone, ipad or mac or further down desktop installation for Skype.

    There are clear demos for each type.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,061
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    edited March 2020 #6

    I think even Skype charge you if its not done over and internet connection, I imagine that might also include phone data. There seems to be two methods of communication with Skype one by using an email account which is free and another via the phone number which is chargeable if I have understood it correctly. 

    David

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,298
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    edited March 2020 #7

    WhatsApp isn’t good on pads. Brilliant on iPhones though, super quick, you can easily set up group contacts so a full scale conversation involving everyone can be very good fun and fast flowing. Allows videos, photos, etc... free as well.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,298
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    edited March 2020 #8

    We got an email from Virgin yesterday, they are giving customers an extra 10 Gb of data this month free so that folks can entertain themselves how they need. Reviewing it while the crisis lasts.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,154
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    edited March 2020 #9

    FaceTime with grandtwins this evening. They showed us the cards they made mummy 

    Their school has been on the ball. Work packs for each child and a full programme by computer with the school.  Each morning starts with 15 minutes of PT where a fitness instructor shows children and parents what to do.  Each day each child is allotted a time to speak to their teacher or teaching assistant 

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,298
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    edited March 2020 #10

    That’s very interesting OP. We don’t have any interaction with youngsters, so it’s good to hear what is going on. 😁

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,367
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    edited March 2020 #11

    We use Whats App on our iPhones a lot, mainly for photos / videos plus the occasional voice or video call. You can specify use WiFi or cellular, or both. I have it set to both and it seems to preferentially use WiFi if available and cellular if not.

    For video calls to my sister in France I use the iphones Face Time. Again that will use WiFi if available, cellular if not.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,367
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    edited March 2020 #12

    What will be interesting is how the internet copes with all the extra demand from areas that don't have the infrastructure set up of places of work. Folk working from home, kids on games / social media, more downloading of movies, lots more Face Time / Skype. I know when I have used Face Time on New Year's Eve, to contact France, it has often been very in / out. When I checked our data speed it was way down on what it should have been, although was fine after new year.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited March 2020 #13

    It's good to see ideas about communication with family and pals. I think I will be speaking more on the phone to friends who don't use the internet. 

    I'm sure the internet will hold up even if it slows up sometimes. We don't have high speeds were we live so we're used to that problem.

    Last night I had an open phone call with our little family of three in the NE, everyone chatting together. smile

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