stupid questions about Whatsapp

Brie

OK so I've discovered that my landline international phone plan doesn't include calling mobiles in France.  And my French friend only has a mobile now.  So has suggested I get set up on Whatsapp. 

I think I can manage this - I use WA at work on both my mobile and laptop so I think I can get it to work.  That said WA was already set up for me on my mobile - I'm assuming installation on my own mobile will be pretty easy.  Then if I make a phone call to my French friend I can do that via either my phone or laptop (once set up on there as well).  Any issues I might need to look out for?????

AND if I am using WA to phone someone else do they need to have WA?  Or can I use it and ring their mobile?  This will be important when I go to Canada later this year as none of the people I will need to ring will have WA.  And the locals will have phone plans that allow them free long distance calls or whatever.  

AND if someone phones me from their mobile or landline will the call go through to WA?  What about if someone texts me?  I ask because it's extraordinarily expensive to use my UK sim in Canada.  This will be complicated by having my very very very non techy OH with me and I'll need to explain the whole thing to him in a way that is both understandable and yet not like I'm talking to an infant.  (but saying that I think my 1 yo grandnephew might be better at tech.....)

Neil_Jones

1) Install from Play Store / Apple store as appropriate.  If the contact number you have is on WhatsApp it will show in the contact list.  You can call from WhatsApp itself rather than the phone app on your phone.

2) Cannot call somebody on whatsapp if they don't have WhatsApp.  Same as if they don't have Teams/Zoom/Facetime/<insert video conference software of choice> you can't call them on that.  Need to use normal phone app.

3) Depends how its set up.  WhatsApp doesn't take over by default and your phone app should remain as it is now.  Otherwise if you get a call or message on WhatsApp it pops up as normal.

Brie

Thanks @Neil_Jones
So both OH and I will need to get new sims in Canada so we can contact each other or anyone else while there.  And we're still left with the issue of not being able to do any online banking as we won't be able to get OTPs or whatever from banks.  It's a real nuisance as we plan on being there for quite some time and will definitely need to do some banking at some point.  

Neil_Jones

I didn't say anything about getting new SIMs.

And you never mentioned about wanting to bank.

Most online banking providers in the UK will provide you with access from abroad. Depending on who you may have to opt in or do it a different way or whatever, but a quick Google seems to suggest it should be okay - OTP can be generated and received through banking apps, not necessarily texts.but your mileage may vary depending on the provider.

Brie

Neil_Jones said:

I didn't say anything about getting new SIMs.

And you never mentioned about wanting to bank.

Most online banking providers in the UK will provide you with access from abroad. Depending on who you may have to opt in or do it a different way or whatever, but a quick Google seems to suggest it should be okay - OTP can be generated and received through banking apps, not necessarily texts.but your mileage may vary depending on the provider.

No, I know you didn't say anything about new Sims.  But as my provider will charge about £5 a day for service and then £2 per minute for each call made and similar costs for texts it's much cheaper for me to get a local sim for about £15 for a month. Which is one of the reasons why I was looking into alternatives.  WA's free, a new sim isn't.  But if it won't work there then that's fine I'll just use it when I'm in the UK.

My bank has confirmed that they would need to ring or text my registered number to allow me most access for transactions and they can't accept me changing the number unless I can tell them the new number before I go which I can't as I can't get the new local sim until I'm there.  Very catch 22.

I'm assuming a banking app works via the internet rather than the mobile number so it will mean setting up a number of apps on my phone.....assuming that's possible, not sure how much memory is available.  Never had a banking app on my phone so that's another thing to look in to I guess!!!

Olinda99

as well as ringing or texting your authorised number could they authorise via the banking app if you installed it ?

alternatively does your phone support dual SIM in which case you could keep your UK SIM for incoming texts and your Canadian SIM for making outgoing text on phone calls for example

Brie

Olinda99 said:

as well as ringing or texting your authorised number could they authorise via the banking app if you installed it ?

alternatively does your phone support dual SIM in which case you could keep your UK SIM for incoming texts and your Canadian SIM for making outgoing text on phone calls for example

I'll have to check if they even have an app - I assume they will but they've never suggested this as an alternative to texting/phoning.

Unfortunately my phone is not fancy enough to take 2 sims.  It's smart but not a genius!!  And it works perfectly well otherwise so I'm not about to replace it.  (unless I flush it down the loo this aft....)

Newcad

If you set up internet banking that you use through a browser then you should be able to access that through the browser on any smartphone, from anywhere in the world. (Although some banks will block connections from overseas IPs).
I can log into my bank account through any browser on my phone, or a laptop, just using my account password and other previously provided information. (4- random characters/number from a 16 digit code).
I do usually use the app on my phone instead though.
The reason why you would use an app on the phone instead of logging in through a browser is because it's easier to login to the apps, you can usually simply use your fingerprint, face recognition, or other biometrics built into the phone rather than a password and code.

Northern_Wanderer

Apart from whatsapp, lebara give 100mins each month of free calls to EU countires. They also have a Canada roaming plan, 8 days for £5. Does you mobile provider have a roaming add on?

Emmia

Do you have phones which allow dual SIMs - you could use a Canadian / international SIM in one, retaining your existing SIM in the other - just set the Canadian/international one for calls / texts etc. 

Brie

apparently my provider has a roaming plan for £25 for 8 days!!  Wow - that's 3 times what I pay a month in the UK!!  And I'd need that about 6 times to cover my visit!!!  So NOT.  My alternative is to upgrade my plan from £7 a month to £29 for the next 2 years to get full roaming cover.  Not very MSE!!

The do have an eSim available if you load their app (another app......) so potentially I could then add a local app as well and still receive necessary texts/calls from the UK from banks.

Sorry - I've taken this way off topic from the original intentions.  Thanks to everyone who has helped.