Using Skype, Viber, KaKao and Factime.

Spring is almost here...and it couldn't come soon enough!  With spring comes spring break!  Perhaps you or your kids are traveling to other countries this spring (or summer) and you want to keep up with the folks back home.  You have a number of options.  First, if you are communicating to another iOS device you can simply use the Messages App or FaceTime to communicate.  If you are communicating between device platforms (iPhone to Android, or iPhone to PC), then you'll need an App like Skype, Viber or KaKao Talk.  

The Skype platform has been around the longest.  It's a great tool that allows you to communicate with others using Skype across platforms.  You can Skype with someone from a PC to a Mac, or an Android to a PC, or a Mac to an Android.  You get the picture.   It also works on the iPhone and iPad.    Skyping is free, so long as you are connected to a wireless network.  If you try and Skype from an iPhone in Mexico to an iPhone in Beijing, and neither of you are connected to wireless, your data charges from your carrier may not bankrupt you but they will be costly!  So make certain that you are connected to a wireless network, so when you Skype with someone, anyone, anywhere in the world, its FREE!  Now Skype also let's you call land lines anywhere in the world.  There are charges for that, and I recommend you visit Skype.com to make yourself aware of those charges.  

Ok, moving on.  The next App I'm going to discuss is Viber.  

Viber is a popular app with the younger crowd (teens and 20-somethings).  Viber provides basically the same service as Skype.  It's a cross-platform communication app (tool).  It let's you communicate to other Viber users for free, IF you are on connected to a wireless network.  If you are using your 3G or LTE connection, you WILL have data charges for using Viber.  Again is you are going out of the country, PLEASE make sure prior to using Viber that you have connected to a wireless network.  Otherwise your data charge(s) will be considerable, and your parents will get upset with you!    

KaKao Talk is another in a line of communication Apps, offering the similar services as Viber and Skype.  For the younger crowd it has some cool emojis that you can use.

All of these Apps are great tools to communicate across platform.  If you are communicating within Platform (Apple), I highly recommend using the Apple tools:  iMessage (Message App on your iPhone/iPad) and FaceTime.  iMessage offers end to end encryption for messaging, and FaceTime offers crystal clear video and now audio.  iMessage and FaceTime CAN be FREE (between countries), if you are in a wireless network.  They are ALWAYS free within the United States (wireless or data).  

Real life story...Last summer my daughter was in Israel.  While on a Kibbutz (and connected to their wireless network) she FaceTimed me (many times).  You know how much it cost me?  ZERO.  How awesome is that!! A video call, between countries for more than 20 minutes, for FREE!!  Because she listened to dad, turned her cellular off and connected to wi-fi...good kid!

So parents you have some good options to communicate with your kids while they are out of the country this spring break (and anytime for that matter), you just need to make them aware of shortcomings (not using wireless).  

Enjoy the warm weather, enjoy spring break, keep the kids (and yourself) on wi-fi while out of the country!

Until next time, best to you and your devices!

Wi-Fi...the case for using it with your Smartphones/tablets at home and wherever it's secure.

Recently I decided to do some research on LTE speeds amongst the top US carriers.  I was quite surprised at how SLOW LTE is compared to the fastest home internet speeds (and of course home Wi-Fi).  Now I'm not sure why I'm so surprised, but I truly thought LTE would bring us speeds much closer to that of the fastest Wi-Fi that is offered.  Not so, sadly.  My blog today is going to cover the research, and explain why you should DEFINITELY be using Wi-Fi at home, and also, if it has security, wherever and whenever you can.

For starters, LTE is still limited.  You hear and watch these commercials from Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile flaunting their new LTE networks and speeds.  Folks, don't believe the hype and drama!  LTE is barely faster than 3G!  I've got research to prove it.

Through an iOS App called OpenSignal, I've been able to capture some great information.  The first screen capture that you'll see, is the aggregated Network speeds provided by the four main carriers in the US.  

This picture  gives a portrayal of the speeds (2G - 4G) you are most likely to encounter as you travel in and out of your carriers coverage areas.  You will NOT obtain LTE speeds everywhere you go, even if you have an LTE capable device.  Ok.  You'll notice, when combined, Verizon can claim they have the fastest download speeds at 5.9 Mbps (Mega Bytes Per Second).  AT&T is right on their tail, coming in at 5.85 Mbps, while T-Mobile is not far behind, clocking in at 5.14 Mbps, finally Sprint trailing SO far behind it's embarrassing!

Now if we remove 2G from the equation, let's look at how the coverage and speeds change.

In the above graphic, you'll notice AT&T now has a slight advantage over Verizon, with T-Mobile coming in a respectable 3rd, and Sprint still miles away, at a crazy slow download speed of only 1.90 Mbps!!

Now, look how it changes when we limit the discussion to only 4G (LTE).

AT&T leaps ahead of Verizon, going from 6.03 Mbps to 8.35 Mbps!  T-Mobile also makes a significant jump from 5.53 Mbps all the way to 6.93 Mbps narrowly coming in 3rd to Verizon.  Sprint folks, even with their unlimited data offering is so far behind, it almost doesn't pay to be using them!

Now, why am I bothering with Cellular speeds, wasn't this supposed to be about Wi-Fi you ask?  Yes, thats exactly why I'm offering you the Cellular comparison first!

If you have internet coming into your home, you are paying for the speed with which your providers is providing your internet, which I hope you realize.  What you may not realize is that  you have the opportunity to get speeds at your home that run laps around what your carriers are able to provide with LTE right now.  Incoming internet speeds ranges from the ridiculously slow 768 Kbps (just a refresher, 1000 Kbps is equal to 1 Mbps) all the way up to warp speed of 50 Mbps.  Now, if you have internet at your home, do you even know what speed you are getting?  If not, find out!  Think of how much more efficient you'd be, and how much more you'd get it done with incoming speeds of well more than 100% faster than LTE! AT&T LTE tops out at 8.35 Mbps.  AT&T's home internet now claims to come in at over 40 Mbps!    Bazinga!  As one of my kids favorite TV show likes to say!  Even if all you do is check and respond to your email, it still pays to be doing it faster and more efficiently!  I'm not going to list all the home internet providers, or their available speeds, it's too much for this blog.  You should, however find out from your provider what speed you are getting, and if you aren't happy, get more speed!  Then, use your home Wi-Fi for your devices!  It's less expensive and it can be significantly faster!  Trust me, if you don't think faster is better with Wi-Fi, just do a test and try downloading a song, or movie at 8 Mbps, then retry at 25 Mbps, then again at 40 Mbps.  The speed difference with which downloads occur at higher rates will make you cry tears of joy!  Not too mention piss off your Cellular carriers, as you now can save money because using Wi-Fi is free (yes you pay to have internet coming to your home, but you can use as much data, on as many devices, as your heart desires, with no crappy overage costs!)

...:).  So you have a few take aways here.  First, if you have internet coming to your home, find out the speed.  Second, if you are not happy with the speed, ask for faster options.  If your current provider is limited to 20 Mbps or less, check out Comcast and AT&T.  Both now claim to have top speeds of over 40Mbps!  Third, loose the wireless router provided by your carrier, tell them you simply want a modem, then go and get yourself a great wireless router.  I highly recommend Apple's Airport Extreme.  It's the easiest to set up (can be set up right from your iPhone or iPad), easiest to use, and provides some of the best wireless coverage for your home.

I truly hope you found this information helpful, and until next time, best to you and your devices!