I have an android phone and iPad at home and used to have an iPhone, I could use the iPhone and iPad to speak to the home when I was out using bt wifi , however with me with an android phone and wife having iPad they rant compatible using iMessage or what's app is there anything else out there ? Another app or is it a matter of getting iPad jail broken or using email?

I think google hangouts will work cross platform without the need for a phone number.

If there's an andriod client for Skype you could always use the chat part of that as well.

Edited 7 November, 201510 yr by gullyg

Android client?

Whats app will work across all platforms - I use it on my work windows phone, personal android phone and my wife uses if on her android phone and android tablet - Dad uses it on his iPhone 5s.

 

It's the best and least complicated solution for cross platform messaging and calls...

I don't think you can use WhatsApp on tablets because it relies on having a phone number for identification? Something like Signal might work, otherwise Hangouts (which is geared around your email address) or Skype (requires a Microsoft account now I think, but is also tied primarily to an email address)

Whats app will work across all platforms - I use it on my work windows phone, personal android phone and my wife uses if on her android phone and android tablet - Dad uses it on his iPhone 5s.

 

It's the best and least complicated solution for cross platform messaging and calls...

Unavailable on iPad

Unavailable on iPad

 

From memory it needs a SIM card to attach to as Gac says as it uses a phone number to identify you.

 

Skype has a client availible for Andriod

http://www.skype.com/en/download-skype/skype-for-android/

 

But you'd probably be better with Hangouts, I think it's the default messenger for Andriod now.

Edited 7 November, 201510 yr by gullyg

Unavailable on iPad

And here's how to get around that minor issue!

 

http://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/ipad/how-install-whatsapp-on-ipad-whatsapp-web-3508959/

Hangouts, works on almost anything and you can go back in you logs to find a link etc.

 

The only crazy is if you have your phone, ipad and desktop on in front of you and someone calls... all of them are trying to get your attention

 

Other than google taxing privacy it's free and at least I know who's [company] using my data, although it could be anyone I really don't care that much, not like I work for an intelligence agency...

Thank you all.hangouts is really good

Been reading some dodgy stuff about WhatsApp lately. But of a data slurp going on.

 

What about BBM? It's cross platform I think.

 

I'm not a massive fan of Google.

Telegram seems to work quite well across devices. Even a PC client too.

Worth noting with whatsapp...

my brother in law came home from canada in feb. His phone contrac wasnt out until end of august, so he was using the canadian phone for whatsapp etc until then.

contract ended, and within a week his provider had recycled the number to a new account which came to light due to his siblings getting a random "hi" message on whatsapp in a group chat they had going from the BIL's Candaian contact info, with a new profile picture...

the guy who got the phone number also got the BIL's canadian whatsapp account info and was landed into bil's group chats etc..

rather ****ty data protection imo...

rather ****ty data protection imo...

 

On the other hand, the only way WhatsApp could have known that was what happened is if your brothers phone company had shared with them that his contract had ended, which would arguably be even worse data protection since it would be discussing private financial details (not the sort that could actually cost you, but remember that phone contracts are included within your credit file/score here so presumably it's similar in Canada) with a third party...

 

WhatsApp are pretty clear that your phone number is your "unique identifier" for their service, including telling you how to migrate phones and providers as long as you keep your existing number, your yearly subscription is keyed to your phone number so you keep that as long as you keep the phone number, etc. In this case, it sounds like your brother should have had a better understanding of what was going to happen if he let the number lapse - online services should be on the "list to notify" just like your bank, employer, insurance companies, and any other companies who may need to use your mobile to get in touch with you. Even if it's not as blatant as WhatsApp, remember that Facebook and the like do SMS verification for lost passwords, figure out whose phone number you have and it might be the key to loads of other stuff.

If it is privacy conscious your after then it has to be Signal. It is run by Open Whisper Sytems. Highly regarded in the data privacy world. They use to run Text Secure and Red Phone both end to end encrypted. The company has now brought these together as one called Signal which Apple IOS has now addopted. With Signal you can make end to encrypted texts and phone calls free to other Signal users. What's App has now also adopted the software to but you cannot encrypt between What's App and Signal.

 

So...it has to Signal all the way. Even Snowden endoreses the company,it's ethics and most of all it's data encryption. Free to download on google play. Check out the website and read FAQ'S etc.

 

While your at it download Cyberghost 5 vpn from Romania for free. Again the encryption data privacy ehtics of this company is highly regarded. Rated extremely high on the best sites on the net. It also gives the free 256AES encryption as there main selling point and you upgrade beyond that for not much money. Check it it is a no brainer and I've been using all of the above for sometime.  Spread the word.