Acorn TV and Whatsapp
Feb 25th, 2017, 04:58 PM
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Acorn TV and Whatsapp
Considering Acorn TV but would like to know if I can access it on my IPAD while in Europe for two months when WIFI is available. If not, I will wait until I return.
Also, I was told to download Whatsapp, which I did, to make free calls to the states while traveling. In the past I have added an ATT plan, but it is very expensive. I am very tech challenged so I would appreciate any information I may need to make this work as it is essential that I am able to call home as my spouse will be with a caregiver while I am away.
Mahalo
Also, I was told to download Whatsapp, which I did, to make free calls to the states while traveling. In the past I have added an ATT plan, but it is very expensive. I am very tech challenged so I would appreciate any information I may need to make this work as it is essential that I am able to call home as my spouse will be with a caregiver while I am away.
Mahalo
Feb 25th, 2017, 05:54 PM
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I've not used Acorn, but you could sign up for a VPN service to use while you in Europe. A VPN very simply (in your case) puts you on another network that is based in the United States. So when you connect from Europe to your VPN that's in the US, Acorn thinks you are still in the US. You can subscribe monthly to a VPN service.
You can test the VPN service on your iPad before you leave for Europe.
I don't know much about iPads. But I would do some research and find the best VPN for an iPad. Find one with easy-to-follow instructions.
As for calling home: you can always buy a SIM card for your phone when you get to Europe. That will allow you to make local calls and be available anywhere when not on WiFi...but if you buy a SIM in say Denmark, you'll get a Danish phone number (until you put your AT&T SIM back into the phone, giving your a US phone number again). So anyone from the states would have to make an international call to call that number.
But you could still use WhatsApp as you would on WiFi if you buy a SIM that has mobile data. In fact, unless you really need to make local calls within Europe, you could get a data-only SIM with no voice capability, then use WhatsApp to make calls anyway.
I haven't used WhatsApp. I use Google Hangouts Dialer, another free app you can install. It lets you make free calls to the US, even to landlines, while you are on WiFi (or have mobile data as you would with a SIM card). The other person does not need to have Hangouts installed in order for you to call them. You might install Hangouts Dialer too - doesn't hurt to have a second option.
You can only MAKE calls with Hangouts Dialer, not receive them...unless you also sign up for a Google Voice phone number (also free, but slightly more complicated). Helps if you already have a Gmail or Google account. If you really want to go down this road, I can provide more details. Installing Google Hangouts Dialer, just so you can MAKE calls to the US for free, is pretty simple, though.
You can test the VPN service on your iPad before you leave for Europe.
I don't know much about iPads. But I would do some research and find the best VPN for an iPad. Find one with easy-to-follow instructions.
As for calling home: you can always buy a SIM card for your phone when you get to Europe. That will allow you to make local calls and be available anywhere when not on WiFi...but if you buy a SIM in say Denmark, you'll get a Danish phone number (until you put your AT&T SIM back into the phone, giving your a US phone number again). So anyone from the states would have to make an international call to call that number.
But you could still use WhatsApp as you would on WiFi if you buy a SIM that has mobile data. In fact, unless you really need to make local calls within Europe, you could get a data-only SIM with no voice capability, then use WhatsApp to make calls anyway.
I haven't used WhatsApp. I use Google Hangouts Dialer, another free app you can install. It lets you make free calls to the US, even to landlines, while you are on WiFi (or have mobile data as you would with a SIM card). The other person does not need to have Hangouts installed in order for you to call them. You might install Hangouts Dialer too - doesn't hurt to have a second option.
You can only MAKE calls with Hangouts Dialer, not receive them...unless you also sign up for a Google Voice phone number (also free, but slightly more complicated). Helps if you already have a Gmail or Google account. If you really want to go down this road, I can provide more details. Installing Google Hangouts Dialer, just so you can MAKE calls to the US for free, is pretty simple, though.
Feb 25th, 2017, 07:23 PM
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WhatsApp is probably the No.1 messaging app in Europe. You can make free calls when in a WiFi zone, but the person on the receiving end must also have WhatsApp on their phone.
As far as a mobile service goes, if you had T-Móbile, it would be much simpleier when traveling.
Also, with T-Mobile and the right smartphone (iPhone 6 or newer), calls to or from home while in a WiFi zone are free.
As far as a mobile service goes, if you had T-Móbile, it would be much simpleier when traveling.
Also, with T-Mobile and the right smartphone (iPhone 6 or newer), calls to or from home while in a WiFi zone are free.
Feb 28th, 2017, 04:38 AM
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Everybody here uses whatsapp, including my 80-year old mom. If your spouse also downloads it on his phone you can message and call each other, as long as you have wifi where you are. Also great for sharing pictures of your trip.
Feb 28th, 2017, 09:44 AM
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Thank you to everyone who responded.
Andrew –You are always so very helpful and patient with those of us who suffer from being tech challenged!
I finally found a customer service number for ACORN and was told that they are not licensed outside of the US and Canada.
VPN sounds like it may work, however, this adds a learning curve. When time permits, I will try to research a service which works well with an IPAD as it would be nice to have options for entertainment at night after I return home.
SIM card will not work as I need to make it simple for my husband’s caregivers to reach me in case of an emergency. Will look into Google Hangouts Dialer for making calls as it may be that not all the caregivers will have an IPhone.
Robert – thank you – will make sure they have it installed. One caregiver has T- Mobile – will they be able to use WhatsApp? Unfortunately, my phone is a 5.
Kathie – will research Witopia – thank you
Sher – Glad you had access, but it may have changed. Customer service says there is no access. Thank you for your response.
Tulips – Great encouragement for me to use the app. Will be great to communicate and share pictures with my sister in California, but spouse does not have a cell.
Andrew –You are always so very helpful and patient with those of us who suffer from being tech challenged!
I finally found a customer service number for ACORN and was told that they are not licensed outside of the US and Canada.
VPN sounds like it may work, however, this adds a learning curve. When time permits, I will try to research a service which works well with an IPAD as it would be nice to have options for entertainment at night after I return home.
SIM card will not work as I need to make it simple for my husband’s caregivers to reach me in case of an emergency. Will look into Google Hangouts Dialer for making calls as it may be that not all the caregivers will have an IPhone.
Robert – thank you – will make sure they have it installed. One caregiver has T- Mobile – will they be able to use WhatsApp? Unfortunately, my phone is a 5.
Kathie – will research Witopia – thank you
Sher – Glad you had access, but it may have changed. Customer service says there is no access. Thank you for your response.
Tulips – Great encouragement for me to use the app. Will be great to communicate and share pictures with my sister in California, but spouse does not have a cell.
Feb 28th, 2017, 10:38 AM
#8
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Thank you to everyone who responded.
Andrew –You are always so very helpful and patient with those of us who suffer from being tech challenged!
I finally found a customer service number for ACORN and was told that they are not licensed outside of the US and Canada.
VPN sounds like it may work, however, this adds a learning curve. When time permits, I will try to research a service which works well with an IPAD as it would be nice to have options for entertainment at night after I return home.
SIM card will not work as I need to make it simple for my husband’s caregivers to reach me in case of an emergency. Will look into Google Hangouts Dialer for making calls as it may be that not all the caregivers will have an IPhone.
Robert – thank you – will make sure they have it installed. One caregiver has T- Mobile – will they be able to use WhatsApp? Unfortunately, my phone is a 5.
Kathie – will research Witopia – thank you
Sher – Glad you had access, but it may have changed. Customer service says there is no access. Thank you for your response.
Tulips – Great encouragement for me to use the app. Will be great to communicate and share pictures with my sister in California, but spouse does not have a cell.
Andrew –You are always so very helpful and patient with those of us who suffer from being tech challenged!
I finally found a customer service number for ACORN and was told that they are not licensed outside of the US and Canada.
VPN sounds like it may work, however, this adds a learning curve. When time permits, I will try to research a service which works well with an IPAD as it would be nice to have options for entertainment at night after I return home.
SIM card will not work as I need to make it simple for my husband’s caregivers to reach me in case of an emergency. Will look into Google Hangouts Dialer for making calls as it may be that not all the caregivers will have an IPhone.
Robert – thank you – will make sure they have it installed. One caregiver has T- Mobile – will they be able to use WhatsApp? Unfortunately, my phone is a 5.
Kathie – will research Witopia – thank you
Sher – Glad you had access, but it may have changed. Customer service says there is no access. Thank you for your response.
Tulips – Great encouragement for me to use the app. Will be great to communicate and share pictures with my sister in California, but spouse does not have a cell.
Feb 28th, 2017, 10:44 AM
#9
I use witopia on my iPad. The setup is very simple.
You would not need a VPN in the US, unless you wanted extra security when accessing bank accounts etc.
I also use T-Mobile, on a month-by-month plan. It works in 120 countries with no extra charges for low speed data and unlimited texts, and cheap calls.
You would not need a VPN in the US, unless you wanted extra security when accessing bank accounts etc.
I also use T-Mobile, on a month-by-month plan. It works in 120 countries with no extra charges for low speed data and unlimited texts, and cheap calls.
Feb 28th, 2017, 12:32 PM
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Switching to T-Mobile would solve your problem in Europe, as mentioned above, but for various reasons it might not be practical to switch to T-Mobile in the US for regular cell phone use. You might have to pay off phones you bought via AT&T, or you might not have great T-Mobile coverage where you live in the US. (I have found their coverage more than adequate where I live - I only recently switched away from using a cell phone on the US T-Mobile network.)
And if you have lengthy phone calls, it's still going to cost 20 cents/minute even with T-Mobile. That's why it still might help to use WhatsApp and/or Google Hangouts for free calls.
Anyone with cell phone service, not just T-Mobile users, can use WhatsApp, though I've never used it.
You can receive free phone calls using Google Hangouts on your phone, if you also install and setup Google Voice, giving you an additional US phone number (so you keep your existing AT&T cell number - that stays the same). In fact, this is now how I make/receive many phone calls at home on WiFi in the US. My Google Voice phone number has been my primary phone number for years. If I'm in Europe, using WiFi or a mobile SIM I've purchased there, anyone calling my US Google Voice phone number can call me without making an international call, and it costs me nothing to receive the call if I'm on WiFi or mobile data.
Setting up Google Voice on your phone is not that difficult - but you need to install the Google Hangouts first. Try installing that and if you get it to work and call someone (shouldn't be that hard), let me know - I'm happy to help you with the next step: setting up Google Voice, so you can receive calls too.
You should be able to install Google Hangouts using iTunes on your phone - or however you install other apps. (On Android you need two separate apps: Google Hangouts and Google Hangouts Dialer. iPhone users need only one app, Google Hangouts, it seems.)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hang...643496868?mt=8
https://support.google.com/hangouts/...rm%3DiOS&hl=en
https://support.google.com/hangouts/...rm%3DiOS&hl=en
And if you have lengthy phone calls, it's still going to cost 20 cents/minute even with T-Mobile. That's why it still might help to use WhatsApp and/or Google Hangouts for free calls.
Anyone with cell phone service, not just T-Mobile users, can use WhatsApp, though I've never used it.
You can receive free phone calls using Google Hangouts on your phone, if you also install and setup Google Voice, giving you an additional US phone number (so you keep your existing AT&T cell number - that stays the same). In fact, this is now how I make/receive many phone calls at home on WiFi in the US. My Google Voice phone number has been my primary phone number for years. If I'm in Europe, using WiFi or a mobile SIM I've purchased there, anyone calling my US Google Voice phone number can call me without making an international call, and it costs me nothing to receive the call if I'm on WiFi or mobile data.
Setting up Google Voice on your phone is not that difficult - but you need to install the Google Hangouts first. Try installing that and if you get it to work and call someone (shouldn't be that hard), let me know - I'm happy to help you with the next step: setting up Google Voice, so you can receive calls too.
You should be able to install Google Hangouts using iTunes on your phone - or however you install other apps. (On Android you need two separate apps: Google Hangouts and Google Hangouts Dialer. iPhone users need only one app, Google Hangouts, it seems.)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hang...643496868?mt=8
https://support.google.com/hangouts/...rm%3DiOS&hl=en
https://support.google.com/hangouts/...rm%3DiOS&hl=en
Mar 2nd, 2017, 12:26 AM
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Whatsapp is different to Skype - I use whatsapp all the time for instant messaging, sending photos and phone calls using wifi. If I don't have wifi I can still make calls with whatsapp using my data allowance.
Whatsapp is easier to use than Skype, you connect to others using your contacts list.
Whatsapp is easier to use than Skype, you connect to others using your contacts list.
Mar 2nd, 2017, 12:45 AM
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What I like about Whatsapp is that you can easily make groups and communicate with everyone in the group. With kids living in different countries, and family spread out around the world, it's easy to keep in touch by sharing photos and messages with everyone at the same time.
I use skype for one-to-one communication, but only rarely. I use Whatsapp every day.
I use skype for one-to-one communication, but only rarely. I use Whatsapp every day.
