topic Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps in Get Support

Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

neilselden — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 06:56:21 GMT

Hi,

I've been using TextNow on and off for a few weeks and overall,I like it.... except the ads! Removing the ads is around $30/year, which I find to be too high for a recurring charge.

I still like TextNow, as it gives full SMS/MMS capabilities, and the call quality is generally very good. Data usage is around 1MB/minute for voice, which I think is about average. SMS and MMS are delivered as expected.

What other apps are people using that combine VoiP and SMS/MMS? I'm interested to hear about people's experiences, as I am still looking for an alternative to TextNow.

Thanks,

Neil

The context here is that while I love Public Mobile service quality, I am looking for an alternative that will work anywhere I have a stable data (or WiFi) connection.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

Luddite — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:07:45 GMT

Fongo.com and Google Hangouts have many adherents. Fongo is free calling throughout Canada, Hangouts across NA.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

neilselden — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:17:24 GMT

Thanks for the ideas. I've used Fongo, but because of limited SMS/MMS, I am not ahug fan of the app. I do use it for my home phone though, and it works like a charm.

I use Hangouts dialer sometimes, but again, no MMS/SMS, and you cannot receive calls from it.

Cheers,

Neil

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

Samianauman — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:37:02 GMT

I personally like hangout dialer and Facebook messenger hangout dialer you can call north America for free on data and WiFi as well which is a nice

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

will13am — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 15:52:06 GMT

@neilselden, consider rooting your device and installing something like adaway. It is the poor man's way of removing adware without buying the premium app. I use adway for site blocking but ad removal is an "unintended consequence".

This advice is not intended to put the devs out of business. Always support them if you like their product.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

neilselden — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 16:04:42 GMT

@will13am,

That's a great idea. I will look into adaway.

And of course, my phone it rooted already. 😉

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

mimmo — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 17:16:14 GMT

Just a curiosity why do you want Voip/ text combo app. could having two seperate apps not deliver a better solution? As I am writing this are you on a data only plan or not subscribed to PM text messageing?

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

will13am — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 18:49:07 GMT

@neilselden wrote:
@will13am,
That's a great idea. I will look into adaway.

And of course, my phone it rooted already. 😉

If your phone is rooted, then you are 90% of the way there. Adaway is open source which is good. Unfortunately, you need to side load it because it is not available from the play store for obvious reasons. You get get it via the link below.

https://adaway.org/

I should also mention, if you get a google voice number then you can sms with that number. Some folks may not like sending sms to a US number due to possible extra charges. It is not a concern for Public Mobile plans with international SMS.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

sheytoon — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 19:19:08 GMT

I know voip.ms supports calling and SMS, but no MMS. If MMS is not a deal breaker, you can try it.

The third party SMS app for Android is really good too!

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

stonechucker — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 19:35:43 GMT

@sheytoon,

When I was originally looking to go data only, I signed up for VoIP.ms, and the Android app wasn't yet available. This kept me away from using the VoIP.ms service, but I still have a phone number there, and now that I see the Android SMS app.... I may look at it again.

Thanks for letting me know it's available 🙂

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

neilselden — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 19:54:52 GMT

@mimmo wrote:
Just a curiosity why do you want Voip/ text combo app. could having two seperate apps not deliver a better solution? As I am writing this are you on a data only plan or not subscribed to PM text messageing?

Hi,

I would like to have one number for both VoiP and SMS/MMS over IP. I am subscribed to PM SMS/MMS, and have province wide calling. I'm just looking for a portable solution so that matter wherever I am in the world, I can call and message from one number, provided I have data or wifi coverage.

Cheers,

Neil

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

srlawren — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 20:09:02 GMT

@neilselden there's definitely something appealing about abstracting your phone and text service, such that you could sub out any underlying data connection (mobile data from a carrier in another country while roaming, WiFi when you don't feel like doing that, etc) without hassle.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

neilselden — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 16:59:31 GMT

@srlawren,

The reason I like the idea is for traveling. I was recently in Cuba and because I use two factor authentication on a service (to login on a new device, I receive an SMS with a code to enter), I could not access that service because I had no SMS service. I was so frustrated! (Yes, now I know that you can get those codes in advance, but I'm not good at keeping track of that sort of thing).

Generally speaking, I just the Hangouts dialer when in Canada, if I need to call out of province, but even that I find to a pain in the a33.

Cheers,

Neil

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

neilselden — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 17:01:23 GMT

@will13am,

Do you find that adaway can block ads when using your LTE or 3G connection?

Their website says that is may or nor block ads when using a data connection...

Thanks,

Neil

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

will13am — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 17:13:54 GMT

@neilselden wrote:
@will13am,
Do you find that adaway can block ads when using your LTE or 3G connection?

Their website says that is may or nor block ads when using a data connection...

Thanks,
Neil

Adaway blocks sites using hosts file. It doesn't matter whether on Wi-Fi or wireless data, the hosts file is used to screen sites. If the site is in the hosts file, it is blocked. I suggest using adaway together with a firewall. Flashlight apps don't need data.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

ShadowWarrior — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 17:29:43 GMT

Best App among other apps is Whatsapp.

This is because it well maintained now, since their ex-department is under Facebook Department now, because Facebook bought the company.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

sheytoon — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 19:00:29 GMT

Can you send SMS or MMS from WhatsApp directly to a mobile subscriber's phone number who doesn't use WhatsApp?

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

ShadowWarrior — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 19:16:03 GMT

No, most likely they will receive an invitation first to install whatsApp.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

TheOldVR — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 19:32:29 GMT

@Luddite wrote:
Fongo.com and Google Hangouts have many adherents. Fongo is free calling throughout Canada, Hangouts across NA.

Agreed with @Luddite.. Fongo works!

I have it loaded on my phone all the time and keep some credits around for text messages.

It's actually clearer than regular voice calls off my iPhone.

Re: Best VoiP and SMS/MMS apps

srlawren — Wed, 12 Apr 2017 19:40:43 GMT

@sheytoon to the best of my knowledge, WhatsApp does not use SMS or MMS for message delivery and instead uses a proprietary data format of some description. There might be exceptions for (1) verifying your phone number, for which they send you an SMS, and maybe (2) inviting non-WhatsApp contacts via SMS/MMS. But I don't think any of the actual chat messages are delivered over SMS/MMS.