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48 billion fewer text messages as savvy Brits use WhatsApp and other free services |
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#1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
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48 billion fewer text messages as savvy Brits use WhatsApp and other free services
Quite an interesting article (even for the Mirror
)http://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/48-bill...ssages-7621692 It says that the average monthly data usage for smartphones has climbed to 1.2gb which is driving some operators back towards offering unlimited data packages. |
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#2 |
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
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Was an interesting read. I do still text a lot but don't text as much as I did a year or two ago.
I have What's app on my phone but I don't use it much. I prefer Viber or Facebook messenger. I also hardlly use my landline to make calls now. I now get 750 free mins 1gb data and 2000 free text since I changed my 02 tariff not that long ago and I know I will not use all my free mins in a month. My old tariff used to give me unlimited text 150 free mins and 500mb of data. Darren |
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#3 |
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sandy Heath, Beds. UK
Posts: 10,383
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I wonder if that includes iMessage?
Ironically, for most people on a contract they are given more text messages for free than they can possibly use. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 879
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Quote:
I wonder if that includes iMessage?
Ironically, for most people on a contract they are given more text messages for free than they can possibly use. |
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#5 |
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Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 84
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Quote:
I wonder if that includes iMessage?
Ironically, for most people on a contract they are given more text messages for free than they can possibly use. The fact that it's linked to your phone number seems to really simplify the sign up process which makes it easy, even for my luddite parents. |
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#6 |
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 8,102
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Quote:
I have unlimited minutes and unlimited texts but I still tend to use whatsapp for calls and texts. many of my friends and family don't have iPhones so I can't sent them photos and files using iMessage, whatsapp is a good alternative that most people seem to use and the phone calls through it use minimal data (25 minute call last night used 8.6mb) and sound fantastically clear! so its no surprise that so many people use it.
The fact that it's linked to your phone number seems to really simplify the sign up process which makes it easy, even for my luddite parents. |
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#7 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
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I still use SMS as it just works for everyone, usually everyone gets hundreds or thousands included anyway, I don't get by people have these battery draining apps running, especially multiples of them.
Then people wonder why they're having to charge their phone by 6PM when mine lasts for 2 days. |
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#8 |
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Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: UK
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Quote:
I still use SMS as it just works for everyone, usually everyone gets hundreds or thousands included anyway, I don't get by people have these battery draining apps running, especially multiples of them.
Then people wonder why they're having to charge their phone by 6PM when mine lasts for 2 days. I use a combination of iMessage and what's app. I have unlimited texts but I might only send 1 or 2 SMS messages per month. Sometimes I don't send any. My iPhone 6S plus lasts a day and a half on a single charge. Using what's app and imessage doesn't drain my battery, |
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#9 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
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It adds to battery usage, just like Facebook messenger, once you add several of those apps on it does add up. SMS is purpose built and every phone has it, it's so cheap too. If I have to I'll install these extra messengers to communicate with other people, but I don't really want to I like plain SMS as it does the job just fine, I use email for sending pictures.
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#10 |
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 8,102
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Quote:
It adds to battery usage, just like Facebook messenger, once you add several of those apps on it does add up. SMS is purpose built and every phone has it, it's so cheap too. If I have to I'll install these extra messengers to communicate with other people, but I don't really want to I like plain SMS as it does the job just fine, I use email for sending pictures.
![]() I lose a fair amount of battery on a long car journey, it just sits in my pocket, but is constantly polling and swapping masts of course. At home, with it sat in my pocket, with the occasional Whatsapp every hour of so, it's still on 85-90% by evening YMMV |
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#11 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Darn Sarf
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Unlimited text messages, 200 minutes and £5 a month does me fine and probably always will. Landline for any urgent calls inwards when I have my mobile switched off (yep, I switch it off every night). Desktop free email for photos and video.
App Addiction, some of you lot!
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#12 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 834
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Quote:
Quite an interesting article (even for the Mirror
)http://www.mirror.co.uk/tech/48-bill...ssages-7621692 It says that the average monthly data usage for smartphones has climbed to 1.2gb which is driving some operators back towards offering unlimited data packages. Quote:
The surge in messaging and data usage has led mobile phone operators to increasingly offering unlimited data deals as part of their packages.
Apart from Three who are in any case de-emphasising AYCE data what other mobile phone operator offers unlimited data?
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#13 |
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Join Date: Jun 2015
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Personally, I prefer Skype as it has its own app for most platforms and it works decently. However, I also use What's App, Messenger and iMessage. Normal texts are fine, but they don't let you send images or videos and I obviously won't pay for MMS when I've got all these free services to send anything I want.
For voice, I still prefer normal voice calls and just after that Skype. I find What's App and Messenger with really poor quality, even when on WiFi with good backhaul. FaceTime is great, just like Skype. As for landlines, I wish I had the option to contract BT for Broadband only. I never use my landline for voice. I looked into barring all calls, but BT has a monthly charge the call barring service. |
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#14 |
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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Quote:
As for landlines, I wish I had the option to contract BT for Broadband only. I never use my landline for voice. I looked into barring all calls, but BT has a monthly charge the call barring service.
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#15 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: London, UK
Posts: 11,516
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It's why unlimited text messages I get really mean very little. Everyone uses WhatsApp now
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#16 |
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Darn Sarf
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It's why unlimited text messages I get really mean very little. Everyone uses WhatsApp now
Have to admit though, I seem to have used over 100MB of my 500MB mobile data allowance this month, no idea how that happened!
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#17 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 184
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Must say whatsapp has been a god send with sending photos and videos to family abroad etc
Have tried whatsapp calling and have had a few probes with echo on the line etc Hopefully when whatsapp introduce video calling it will be better |
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#18 |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 1,259
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WhatsApp is good for messaging and sending photos, but I wouldn't use it for calls, i've had too many bad experiences with echo on the call. Much better to make an actual call, and if the person i'm calling has a limited number of minutes then I call them since i'm on unlimited.
I still text a bit, too. I find it just works when a mobile data connection can time out. But hey, whatever floats one's boat I guess
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#19 |
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Join Date: Mar 2003
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I still primarily use texts myself, mainly because the two main people I keep in touch with also both prefer texting.
Whatsapp is used solely for picture messaging which is very handy. I suspect if 4G becomes even more widely available and is adopted by more of the MVNO's rather than the main network operators, the average data usage per month would probably rise quite significantly. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 8,102
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Quote:
Must say whatsapp has been a god send with sending photos and videos to family abroad etc
I've sent about 2000 Whatsapps to our lad in Oz. If I'd used SMS that would have been about 500 quid (and the same for him) |
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#21 |
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 14,577
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Quote:
What actually drains the battery, is not being able to leave it alone in your pocket
![]() I lose a fair amount of battery on a long car journey, it just sits in my pocket, but is constantly polling and swapping masts of course. At home, with it sat in my pocket, with the occasional Whatsapp every hour of so, it's still on 85-90% by evening YMMV Then people wonder why they've got no battery half way through the day and say things like "why can't manufacturers make a phone that lasts for the day" mine lasts for 2 days with a bit of browsing, some checking news, weather, other apps, calls, texts etc. I'm quite sure that not having multiple messaging apps is something to do with that. Everyone has SMS and it's dirt cheap and part of the phone contract, so that's all I use. |
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#22 |
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Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: North West
Posts: 4,885
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Quote:
I still use SMS as it just works for everyone, usually everyone gets hundreds or thousands included anyway, I don't get by people have these battery draining apps running, especially multiples of them.
Then people wonder why they're having to charge their phone by 6PM when mine lasts for 2 days. Something we actually agree one! I too prefer SMS as well, I have WhatsApp, however that is secondary to anything I use. I detest Facebook Messenger just because its forced on you if you want to communicate with friends via the site. Skype I only use for desktop as mobile app is a pain. The main thing I like about SMS is the delivery reports, when thats received you know for a fact the other person has seen it, where as on WhatsApp et al its a bit grey, especially if they are not within range of a data connection. I should say it is surprising some of the deference shown towards those who favour more tried and tested ways of sending a message. The attitude seems to be that of being luddites, which couldn't be further from the truth. I donn't mind WhatsApp because its a choice and also a cheap way to send media, FB Messenger I detest, for that reason I disable notifications sent to mobile |
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#23 |
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Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 8,102
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Quote:
The main thing I like about SMS is the delivery reports, when thats received you know for a fact the other person has seen it, where as on WhatsApp et al its a bit grey, especially if they are not within range of a data connection.
(For iphones SMS delivery reports are impossible too) |
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#24 |
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Leicester
Posts: 897
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Quote:
Some people are using Skype, so am I meant to leave Skype on available? some people use What'sapp, then there's Viber and Snapchat and Facebook messenger all these other ones.
Then people wonder why they've got no battery half way through the day and say things like "why can't manufacturers make a phone that lasts for the day" mine lasts for 2 days with a bit of browsing, some checking news, weather, other apps, calls, texts etc. I'm quite sure that not having multiple messaging apps is something to do with that. Everyone has SMS and it's dirt cheap and part of the phone contract, so that's all I use. Quote:
The main thing I like about SMS is the delivery reports, when thats received you know for a fact the other person has seen it
Quote:
where as on WhatsApp et al its a bit grey, especially if they are not within range of a data connection.
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#25 |
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Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 184
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Anybody have insight into whatsapp video calls
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