Viber

I tried out this VOIP app which allows you to phone and text other users for free which I appreciate. It installed seamlessly on my Android based smartphone. You just enter your phone number and user name and it basically does the rest for you. The initial text they send verifies your activation code automatically making the process even simpler. It imports your contacts automatically from which you can call or text other users. You can respond to incoming texts using the software and you can reply to texts when your screen is locked as well which is cool. You can setup your custom answer screen to regard phone calls the way you want such ignore them, respond with a text, or answer. There is a quality indicator so you know how well the VOIP connect is per call. Being able to transfer calls between the app and your desktop is one of the strongest features in my opinion. The texting feature set is quite strong allowing you to share video, photos, emoticons and stickers they provide as well as your location. You can have group chats. And the app shows when your message is received and when the other person is typing. You can also search your messages easily which I like having had to so with regular texts in the past being a hassle. You can also export your chat history which might be useful in certain situations.

I don't believe you would be able to set this up on a tablet because you need to use your existing cel number to activate it which is a significant drawback but perhaps not a deal breaker as it still offers a lot of free value having both phone and text capabilities. There is a limit to the size of video you can share which I can understand due to bandwidth resources but most videos I receive a quite a bit bigger than their limit.

This is solid option and includes a ton of free value which I appreciate. I moved from another province with Canada but keep my old cel number currently. So I wanted to find the best option for people here not having to worry about texting or calling with charges, even though most cel phone plans are national nowadays, it is practical and courteous for me to provide the option. This software allows me to do just that. Furthermore, it allows for free phone communication which Whatsapp does not. So I'm glad to have discover it and will happily recommend it to others.