View Full Version : WhatsApp Beta
Mr Feesh
12-08-2010, 07:44 PM
In case you guys don't know what WhatsApp is it works like bbm, except on iphones, certain nokia's and coming soon to Android.
It might be a bit crude and not that fancy, but hey if its going to save me money instead of paying for sms i dont mind. My biggest gripe is that when the phone is locked and some one sends you a message the phone's screen doesn't light up showing you the message.
So far i have only tested it with my Brother who has an iphone. I got my invite today and have the apk if any one wants.
If you search the forums you'll find one or two threads where we've discussed it... loving the app :P
Maddmatt
12-08-2010, 08:31 PM
What's the advantage of something like BBM/WhatsApp compared to just leaving an IM app running? If everyone could run Fring/Nimbuzz/Skype or something we could save a lot of money.
Mr Feesh
12-08-2010, 08:52 PM
What's the advantage of something like BBM/WhatsApp compared to just leaving an IM app running? If everyone could run Fring/Nimbuzz/Skype or something we could save a lot of money.
uhm don't really know haha, i never really thought of it that way. Can you get those programs on bb?
Maddmatt
12-08-2010, 09:02 PM
A quick Google search came up with these:
http://na.blackberry.com/devices/features/im/
http://www.blackberryforums.com/aftermarket-software/2973-blackberry-im-chat-apps-faq-msn-aim-icq-yahoo-google-updated.html
So yes Blackberry can connect to common IM services such as MSN, just like everybody else. I'm surprised more people don't use this in SA, such a simple way to avoid getting ripped off by SMS is staring us in the face :)
I also randomly came across this app which is also a cross-platform BBM-like app: http://www.appbrain.com/app/kik.android
mjwitter
12-08-2010, 09:11 PM
Would love to get the app if you can share, or tell me where to get it? Lots of my friends with Blackberry's keep telling me to get it..
nivek
12-08-2010, 10:09 PM
its on the istore
sucks battery life in a big way on the iphone 3g though
Mr Feesh
12-08-2010, 10:15 PM
Would love to get the app if you can share, or tell me where to get it? Lots of my friends with Blackberry's keep telling me to get it..
i have the apk though i had to first give them my number so that i can orthorise it, pvt msg me ure email and i will send it to you
mjwitter
12-08-2010, 11:06 PM
Thanks! By the way, how did you register for the Beta? It basically says unable to initialise due to not being an authorized beta user..
Download the non-IMEI linked BETA version from their website in the Downloads section... will work on all the phones they mention there.
Mr Feesh
13-08-2010, 07:55 AM
Thanks! By the way, how did you register for the Beta? It basically says unable to initialise due to not being an authorized beta user..
I emailed them last week asking to be part of any future beta tests that they will have,also listed where i was from and what form of android i am running. Try what @Dean said, let me know how it goes
mjwitter
13-08-2010, 09:03 AM
Thanks guys, the program started working after a few more tries.Guess it took a while to add my number to the system.
nadimm
13-08-2010, 11:56 AM
What's the advantage of something like BBM/WhatsApp compared to just leaving an IM app running? If everyone could run Fring/Nimbuzz/Skype or something we could save a lot of money.
Push notifications. Not that i've used it, from what i understand it mimics sms, where Fring etc. are chat apps.
nadimm
13-08-2010, 12:06 PM
Thanks guys, the program started working after a few more tries.Guess it took a while to add my number to the system.
So i mailed the website. Got the apk. How many tries before success?
fotonemer
13-08-2010, 12:07 PM
Download the non-IMEI linked BETA version from their website in the Downloads section... will work on all the phones they mention there.
No non-IMEI link for android on their website. Or I am a complete moron for not seeing it!
Mr Feesh
13-08-2010, 01:34 PM
Push notifications. Not that i've used it, from what i understand it mimics sms, where Fring etc. are chat apps.
Isn't this like similar to mxit? therefore not use lots of data
mjwitter
13-08-2010, 05:25 PM
So i mailed the website. Got the apk. How many tries before success?
Took 3 tries before it worked, each time I got an sms. On the last try it popped up a notification after a few seconds to say that it had registered (something like that). Now it says that it is paid, and expires in a year in the Account Info menu
nadimm
13-08-2010, 07:04 PM
Damo. Not happening for me.
No non-IMEI link for android on their website. Or I am a complete moron for not seeing it!
Oh I was referring to Nokia
Mr Feesh
13-08-2010, 07:24 PM
Oh I was referring to Nokia
we in the android thread
my bad! originally linked here from the homepage
nadimm
14-08-2010, 11:56 AM
Ok. Been using it for a day now. On the iphone you get a message exactly like an sms. So that's a major difference to a chat program. On the android there's not much different to a chat app like fringe or ebuddy. Messages don't pop up, which defeats the whole point of the app. You do get a notification sound and icon in the notification bar, but that's it. Also doesn't turn the screen on. So unless this changes, no reason to use it, unless a lot off your contacts have it.
Mr Feesh
14-08-2010, 05:38 PM
Ok. Been using it for a day now. On the iphone you get a message exactly like an sms. So that's a major difference to a chat program. On the android there's not much different to a chat app like fringe or ebuddy. Messages don't pop up, which defeats the whole point of the app. You do get a notification sound and icon in the notification bar, but that's it. Also doesn't turn the screen on. So unless this changes, no reason to use it, unless a lot off your contacts have it.
Agreed @ this stage its not amazing but it is a beta. Whats the data usage of this app like?
mjwitter
14-08-2010, 07:12 PM
Agreed @ this stage its not amazing but it is a beta. Whats the data usage of this app like?
So far mine has used just under 300KB, that's 15 messages and a few friend list updates over today and yesterday. So if I were using 3G that would have cost the price of one sms and I sent 7 of those 15, so coming out quite far ahead. Also at home I use Wifi, so it is basically free..
oronte
15-08-2010, 11:58 AM
For Android people you can also use Google talk to communicate with your Blackberry friends. Google talk can run permanently in the background on a Blackberry and use virtually no power (I have gtalk and bbm running on my Blackberry). I don't know how gtalk works on android though?
Maddmatt
15-08-2010, 12:17 PM
Google Talk runs in the background by default on Android and signs in automatically.
The hardest part of all this is getting people I know to use one of these programs, they're not going to install this stuff on their phones just for me.
oronte
15-08-2010, 12:33 PM
Good point, that's why you get them when they're young (or new). I convinced everyone of my friends who got a Blackberry recently to install googletalk and bbm that way they've already got an im app and see no need to install a new one (hopefully).
Ok. Been using it for a day now. On the iphone you get a message exactly like an sms. So that's a major difference to a chat program. On the android there's not much different to a chat app like fringe or ebuddy. Messages don't pop up, which defeats the whole point of the app. You do get a notification sound and icon in the notification bar, but that's it. Also doesn't turn the screen on. So unless this changes, no reason to use it, unless a lot off your contacts have it.
Instead of complaining here about an app that's in a testing phase, I think it'll be loads more beneficial if you email WhatsApp with your findings (bugs) and recommendations. For the Nokia BETA, we used the address nokia-support@whatsapp.com... so I assume you can probably use that one too, or perhaps they have android-support@whatsapp.com