[JasonWatkins]

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.

[ney]

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

[Stig]

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.

[packages]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stig

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.

I would seriously doubt it. iMessage would be classed the same type of message like WhatsApp. It uses data rather than SMS.

[engineermoore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stig

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.

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.

[Mark C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by engineermoore

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.

Where Whatsapp's advantages really kick in is with international text messaging, which is in essence is 'free' and allows group discussions too. International SMS messages are 30 to 50p per shot (and a shot is only 160 characters)

[Thine Wonk]

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.

[Anika Hanson]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

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.

Using what's app doesn't really drain your battery.

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,

[Thine Wonk]

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.

[Mark C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

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.

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

[d'@ve]

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!

[nigelbb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonWatkins

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.

Really? The article actually says:-

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?

[LegendaryAced]

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.

[nigelbb]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LegendaryAced

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.

I find that it's very simple to bar all calls. Just don't plug a phone in.

[misawa97]

It's why unlimited text messages I get really mean very little. Everyone uses WhatsApp now

[d'@ve]

Quote:

Originally Posted by misawa97

It's why unlimited text messages I get really mean very little. Everyone uses WhatsApp now

Some of us have never used it and some never will. Whatever it is.

Have to admit though, I seem to have used over 100MB of my 500MB mobile data allowance this month, no idea how that happened!

[Darreninessex]

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

[mrMick]

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

[JasonWatkins]

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.

[Mark C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darreninessex

Must say whatsapp has been a god send with sending photos and videos to family abroad etc

Yes, as said foreign use, (and sending/receiving from a foreign location) is unbeatable.

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)

[Thine Wonk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark C

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

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.

[Aye Up]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

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.

Well bugger me and call me Charlie!!!

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

[Mark C]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aye Up

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.

You've obviously not used Whatsapp in the last year then !

(For iphones SMS delivery reports are impossible too)

[Dan 8t1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

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.

I don't think using multiple messaging apps has quite the impact on battery you imagine it does. I've played about with Windows Phone app development before and know the situtaion is similar on other smartphone platforms: the only service the phone is in constant contact with is Microsoft's/Apple's/Google's push notification service. Whether it's WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or whatever, all notifications will come via the platform provider's notification service. Selecting the notification will then cause the app to open and display the message (or download the message or content if it's too large to be sent via the push notification service). The idea that all these apps are 'running in the background' and in constant contact with different servers is just wrong.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aye Up

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

No, you only know that it's reached their phone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aye Up

where as on WhatsApp et al its a bit grey, especially if they are not within range of a data connection.

I think most people with WhatsApp will be in range of a data connection the vast majority of the time. And if you send a message which you consider to be urgent (personally, I'd just call someone if it was urgent, but each to their own) and you can see that it's not been delivered straight away, you could then SMS them as a backup.

[Darreninessex]

Anybody have insight into whatsapp video calls