Smartphones have totally changed the way we use a gadget. Rather than
just a calling and messaging device, they’ve become our life companions
for checking emails, doing social networking, viewing/editing work
documents, listening and watching to music or video, playing games, and
much more. Heck, they even provide a free alternative to mobile operator
through voice and video calling apps. Let’s see some of such
applications.
Skype
Skype is
one of the oldest and most famous app providing calling functionality.
Not only Android and iOS, it’s available for computer platforms –
Windows, Mac and Linux, and even other mobile OS like Windows Phone and
Blackberry. Apart from voice and video calling,
it allows sharing files, sending messages, etc. between the devices
using Skype. It also offers low cost calling and messaging facility to
mobiles or landlines.
Download for
Skype for Android | Download
Skype for iPhone
Viber
Similar to Skype, Viber is available for computer platforms- Windows
and Mac, and also mobile platforms like Blackberry and Windows Phone,
apart from Android and iOS. One can use Viber for sharing contacts,
files, messages, emoticons, locations, etc. It also allows group calling
facility for up to 40 participants.
Download
Viber for Android | Download
Viber for iPhone
Tango
This app is available for Android, iOS and WP and also Windows OS for
computers. It offers usual features of voice and video calling, sending
messages, animations, files, etc. One interesting thing which Tango
provides is the Mini Games which can be played even during the call and
challenge the caller on the other end.
Download
Tango for Android | Download
Tango for iPhone
Kakao Talk
Kakao Talk is available for almost all mobile platforms- Android,
iOS, Blackberry, Windows Phone and even Bada. It allows voice and video
call, messaging, sharing multimedia content, etc. To add little bit of
fun, the app has in-built games and some voice filters like Talking Tom,
Talking Ben, etc. It also allows users to follow celebrities/ brands
such as Psy, Girl’s Generation, etc. through ‘Plus Friend’ feature and
get updates from them. To see the celebs that can be added, user can go
to the Find Tab and select View All, and simply click add option against
any of them to start getting updates from them. The app also acts as a
reminder for scheduling appointments and gatherings.
Download
Kakao Talk for Android | Download
Kakao Talk for iPhone
Hangouts
Google recently revamped its communication service- Google Talk to
Hangouts making it ubiquitous app for communicating to people using
Gmail, Google+ on their computers and Android and iOS platforms. If
offers the ability of text messaging and video calling. One can talk to
up to 10 people simultaneously. The images being shared are saved in a
private Google+ Album, making it easier to access them at a later time.
It also provides a useful option for snoozing notifications for some
time so that the user is not disturbed.
Download
Hangouts for Android |
Download Hangouts for iPhone
WeChat
While WeChat is essentially an Instant Messaging app available for
all mobile platforms as well as web, it also provides several innovative
ways for voice/ video calling. Live Chat feature is similar to
conference calling facility allowing group of people to voice chat and
it ensures that only one person talks at a time. Video Call as the name
suggests allows the persons chatting to do talk in video or audio mode.
It also has a Voice Chat feature which allows people to send each other a
voice message; this feature is very useful particularly when the other
person is not online.
Download
WeChat for Android | Download
WeChat for iPhone
ooVoo
ooVoo’s claim to fame as a voice and video calling app was its simple
interface and cross platform availability on major mobile platforms as
well as desktop OS. Similar to other apps it allows sending messages,
voice and video calling, etc. Like Skype, ooVoo gives the ability to
call landline numbers through ooVoo credits facility. It also integrates
with Facebook to allow chatting with friends using the social network.
The best part about the app is that it allows group video chatting with
up to 12 people simultaneously.
Download
ooVoo for Android | Download
ooVoo for iPhone
Most people
know MagicJack as that plug that lets you use your home phones as VoIP
phones and send your calls over the internet instead of your residential
carrier's lines (and also
an honorable mention when we looked at ways to use your home phone for internet calling).
It definitely works for that, but the MagicJack app—MagicApp—for iOS
and Android lets you place voice calls over data or Wi-Fi to any
domestic or international number for super-low rates from the US and
Canada. You get a special number when you use the app, and calls in
network to other MagicApp users are, as usual, completely free. If you
have a MagicJack device, you can use the number assigned to it for your
mobile calls as well, and even get calls from your device at home routed
to your smartphone when you're away.
A number of
you called out MagicApp, and highlighted that in the US and Canada,
even without a MagicJack subscription at home, the app works on your
smartphone to give you free domestic calls and cheap international calls
without hassle or fuss—no accounts or subscriptions. The tradeoff there
is that you don't get a specific, constant number, but it's a great way
to work with people where you don't want them to have your real phone
number
Vonage was
one of our favorite ways to make internet calls from your home phone,
and the Vonage Mobile apps for iOS and Android let you take that
flexibility on the go. The service allows you to place voice calls over
data or Wi-Fi using your own number. Voice calls, video calls, and
messaging to other Vonage users is completely free. Domestic calls to
any US number are free, and you can place affordable voice calls to
international numbers too—you'll just need to pony up for Vonage
credits, which are available via in-app purchase in the mobile apps (or
by inviting friends to the service.) Vonage boasts that its rates are
significantly lower than Skype and other similar services, but you
should do the math before you sign up.
Those of
you who praised the service noted that install and setup is simple (all
you need is a phone number), the mobile app itself is lean, and you
praised call quality and reception over data. Plus, Vonage has been
around a long time, and while we wouldn't say getting support and help
from them is super-easy, it's definitely easier than other, smaller
operations.
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