An App for That: WhatsApp Makes Communicating Anywhere Easy and Free

Narration provided by Wondervox.

By Mark McNease

I’d heard about WhatsApp for the past few years but never took the time to learn anything about it. I figured it was just another app among the dozens most of us have on our phones, and I didn’t think I would have any use for it. Then we went on a cruise and a travelling friend of ours suggested we all download the app so we could text and call each other using the ship’s wi-fi. I wasn’t convinced, but I did it anyway … and loved it.

And then, a friend who is moving to Brazil in two weeks told me that was how he got and received calls, after I’d asked him to make sure I get his new number. “It’s the same,” he said. “We use WhatsApp.”

For the uninitiated like me, WhatsApp uses the internet to make phone calls, as well as send encrypted texts. It reminds me of Skype in some ways, but for phones, and more ubiquitous. Rather than calling a username, you’re calling a phone number that can be used anywhere in the world. (Our cell phone numbers belong to us, not to our wireless carriers, and they’re portable.)

I have to say I’ve loved it with the minimal amount of use I’ve had with it, and once I got over thinking it was another nefarious way for an app to get my information that a hundred other systems have, I discovered it’s very easy to use. And making phone calls on the ship without having to pay for some kind of international plan or use my own data through the ship’s very expensive system, was a revelation. All you need is WhatsApp and a wi-fi connection. It really is that simple.

About WhatsApp

WhatsApp is an incredibly popular messaging application that has revolutionized the way the world communicates. The app, which was launched in 2009, allows users to send text messages, make audio and video calls, share photos and videos, and even make group chats with up to 256 people. With more than two billion active users worldwide, WhatsApp is one of the most widely used messaging applications on the market.

One of the unique features that makes WhatsApp stand out from other messaging applications is its end-to-end encryption. This means that all data sent through the app is completely secure and cannot be accessed by anyone outside of the conversation. Additionally, WhatsApp also offers a feature called ‘Status’ which allows users to post temporary text or image updates for their contacts to view.

In short, it’s everything it promises to be, and even for the tech-unsavvy, it’s easy to use and a truly helpful tool.