Best way to send a text to a UK number in South Africa

WLM21

A friend is currently on holiday and has send me a text, asking for some information.

What would the cost be, for me text back ?

I am on a Tesco contract, if that's any help

I've never even considered calling back, would that be cheaper, than say a long message, maybe 4 or 5 texts long.

Is there any way of texting on the computer, like with the UK texts using cbfsms.com.

thank you

boundy

if you both have smart phones you can use whatsapp or viber

jd87

If you are calling or texting a UK number it doesn't matter where the person is. They could be next door, they could be in South Africa, they could be on the Moon - the cost to you is exactly the same, it will be part of your inclusive minutes/texts.

It won't cost them anything to receive your text. It might cost them something to receive your call.

CKhalvashi

jd87 wrote: »

If you are calling or texting a UK number it doesn't matter where the person is. They could be next door, they could be in South Africa, they could be on the Moon - the cost to you is exactly the same, it will be part of your inclusive minutes/texts.

It won't cost them anything to receive your text. It might cost them something to receive your call.

Whilst this is true, I'd still recommend Whatsapp as a cheapest all-round package for this.

CK

Techhead_2

CKhalvashi wrote: »

Whilst this is true, I'd still recommend Whatsapp as a cheapest all-round package for this.

CK

Cheapest all round?

That's a bold statement considering you don't know how much the OP pays for data, whether they have phones that can run what's app and, most importantly how much the friend who is roaming pays for roaming data.

Considering its free for the roaming recipient to receive a text and the OP will either have a fixed cost or a text allowance. My opinion is that texting is likely to be the best "all round".

Earthworm

Whatsapp will only benefit the friend abroad IF they have a smartphone and WiFi as previously suggested. It could help to ask in the text if they have WiFi and if they can get Whatsapp. Just using data could cost them up to £8 per MB or £8,192 for 1GB. For the purpose of just 1 text it is definitely easier just to send it within your allowance.

susannicola

I down loaded Whats App and i text my granson who is abroad a few times every day and its free

Earthworm

Susannicola yes it is free but if you have unlimited texts you can send him SMS for free anyway. It is your grandson that benefits from Whatsapp as he is not paying for the text back to you. The point that is being made is that 1) The OP may not have a smartphone or WiFi and 2) The recipient in South Africa also needs a smartphone and WiFi. Compared to EU South Africa usage costs a lot more.

Techhead_2

susannicola wrote: »

I down loaded Whats App and i text my granson who is abroad a few times every day and its free

How much is your grandson paying for the data to receive the messages (and how much are you paying)?

Our do you mean the App is free for the first year?

WLM21

Update !!

My friend has in fact used another number, I assume a phone belonging to a friend, also in South Africa.

Does this make a difference ?

I don't know whether 'the new phone' has Watsapp

By the way, thank you for all the answers

grumbler

WLM21 wrote: »

Update !!

My friend has in fact used another number, I assume a phone belonging to a friend, also in South Africa.

Does this make a difference ?

Yes it does.
Check how much your provider charges for texts to SA mobiles.