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wellygary
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  #3182052 15-Jan-2024 10:13
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trig42:

 

lxsw20: WhatsApp needs a phone number. Facebook messenger maybe a better solution if an iPad is involved on one end

 

The iPad must have a phone number - she is currently sending MMS from the iPad.

 

 

The assumption is the iPad does have a sim and associated phone number,

 

Otherwise how are the MMS messages ending up on the OPs phone (presumable with a from +64xxxxxxxxx sender ID)




Eva888
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  #3182061 15-Jan-2024 10:39
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@geekIT It can be daunting when tech is described with abbreviations that are meaningless to someone new to it. Many new to smart phones don’t realise  that their smart phone is just a mini computer that they can use as such without any prepay plan.

 

 

 

Might I suggest that both users get Skype. I have installed this on older very tech unsavvy person's tablet and they have found it simple to use with no nagging to add new friends which often happens with some other apps.

 

 

 

Skype works well with both Android and IPad. You can install Skype for Windows on Linda’s computer and Skype from the App Store app on the friends iPad.

 

 

 

Initially you will need to sign them both up to Skype with a screen name and email address. Then they need to send an invitation to one another which once accepted means they are able to communicate and they will see each others name/ pseudonym inside the Skype app.

 

 

 

On her iPad, friend will open the app then tap Linda’s name which will bring up options to both type a message, and on the same screen have an icon of a camera which she taps to both choose a recent photo or take a fresh photo.

 

 

 

Once that camera icon is tapped she can see the latest photos she’s taken and tap it which will give a blue arrow to tap and proceed. The next screen will show the photo she has chosen, plus options to edit which can be ignored if too complex. Tap done and it’s sent. 

 

 

 

Linda will receive the photo/text on her computer and she can reply back the same way. Linda can also have the Skype app on her phone and so receive on both computer and phone, but that risks using prepay data if her phone is away from wifi and she hasn’t changed this ability in phone settings.

 

 

 

They can text each other for free and also speak to each other for free…as long as they are both using wifi/internet. Linda can have her prepay phone set not to receive any data/photos on her phone unless she is on Ŵifi. Linda can receive friend's texts and photos on both her computer and phone if Skype is downloaded on both. She could choose not to be signed into Skype on the phone and only signed in on the computer so she only gets messages in one place.

 

 

 

The good thing with Skype is down the track when the users are more confident, you can also add credit to the Skype account which means you can call or text a landline or mobile number overseas or NZ to a person who does not have Skype which means you don’t need any prepay package at all, just internet. That’s a little more complex but I have set it up for my person and they have managed to call overseas overseas at very cheap rates about 3cents per minute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


lxsw20
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  #3182071 15-Jan-2024 10:57
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wellygary:

 

The assumption is the iPad does have a sim and associated phone number,

 

Otherwise how are the MMS messages ending up on the OPs phone (presumable with a from +64xxxxxxxxx sender ID)

 

 

 

 

Not possible to do this with an iPad, even with a SIM. It may be relaying off an iPhone for SMS/MMS, that is possible.




gehenna
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  #3182072 15-Jan-2024 10:57
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Skype, WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, etc etc etc. It really doesn't matter, they all do the same things. Some need a sim number, some don't. I recommend something that doesn't, since then they aren't tied to their number going forward. Whether it's Skype or whatever makes no difference. It's mainly about what UI is simple enough for the user, I suggest Skype has over complicated itself in recent years. Facebook Messenger is probably the easiest option if they both already have FB (sorry I haven't caught up on the whole thread if this has been mentioned) as long as compressed media isn't an issue for them.

In my experience of getting non tech/older people into different methods, it's often true that the new method is exponentially easier to the thing they know how to do, and they end up wondering why they had to use such a complicated process in the past.

Qazzy03
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  #3182132 15-Jan-2024 11:19
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The telegram app will be the easiest if the iPad doesn't have a phone number.
It only needs an email address and OPs wife and friend can use it to chat via typed messages, pictures, and callings via the internet for free when OPs wife is connected to the home Lan wifi.

geekIT

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  #3182260 15-Jan-2024 16:55
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mentalinc: I don't think the receiver is charged to receive the mms, but it needs to use data to download the mms right?

 

If by 'receiver' you mean my wife Linda, who's been sent photos from her friend, she receives txts ok but has to switch on Mobile Data to get the pics. Which gets charged against her OneNZ prepay.





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Linux
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  #3182265 15-Jan-2024 17:10
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geekIT:

mentalinc: I don't think the receiver is charged to receive the mms, but it needs to use data to download the mms right?


If by 'receiver' you mean my wife Linda, who's been sent photos from her friend, she receives txts ok but has to switch on Mobile Data to get the pics. Which gets charged against her OneNZ prepay.



@geekIT the B party (receiving) yes has to have mobile data on but it should be zero rated if the user is in New Zealand!

bagheera
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  #3182327 15-Jan-2024 18:23
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But if any app that use data when downloading the picture, and with most smartphones this is 99% likely, and you will be charged 50c per mb on pay as you go, and this is most likely what happening

Linux
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  #3182328 15-Jan-2024 18:26
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bagheera: But if any app that use data when downloading the picture, and with most smartphones this is 99% likely, and you will be charged 50c per mb on pay as you go, and this is most likely what happening


Correct background data unless the handset is connected to WiFi when mobile data is enabled

huckster
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  #3182336 15-Jan-2024 18:56
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My 2 cents is not to use Messenger.

 

I have my elderly father with me and he got a strange message from my sister-in-law. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing where he and I were getting very confused, I grabbed his phone and discovered he had been, over the last year or so, conversing with 3 different people - all had the same name/profile picture as my S-I-L.

 

 


Spyware
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  #3182384 15-Jan-2024 19:02
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With the Ukrainian women I get messages from I can't even reply as Facebook have suspended my account, not fair.





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gehenna
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  #3182393 15-Jan-2024 19:33
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huckster:

My 2 cents is not to use Messenger.


I have my elderly father with me and he got a strange message from my sister-in-law. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing where he and I were getting very confused, I grabbed his phone and discovered he had been, over the last year or so, conversing with 3 different people - all had the same name/profile picture as my S-I-L.


 



I think that's a risk regardless. My mum was catfished on Words With Friends. There has to be some education that goes along with this stuff.

geekIT

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  #3182565 16-Jan-2024 12:08
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bagheera: But if any app that use data when downloading the picture, and with most smartphones this is 99% likely, and you will be charged 50c per mb on pay as you go, and this is most likely what happening

 

But isn't the picture itself data?





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jjnz1
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  #3182568 16-Jan-2024 12:24
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geekIT:

 

bagheera: But if any app that use data when downloading the picture, and with most smartphones this is 99% likely, and you will be charged 50c per mb on pay as you go, and this is most likely what happening

 

But isn't the picture itself data?

 

 

 

 

Correct. PXT or MMS messages won't work if mobile data is turned off. 

 

2Degrees, One.NZ and Spark all provide free (zero rated) download of MMS and PXT messages, but mobile data needs to be turned on.

 

 

 

Any PXT or MMS message will cost around $0.50c to send. Free to download (while in NZ).

 

 

 

Pop into a One.NZ store, and have a face to face chat with them over what you are trying to do. They should be able to show you different options for using you're wifes smart phone.

 

 


gehenna
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  #3182572 16-Jan-2024 12:49
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It's the transmission medium that's the problem, not the fact it's data. The MMS medium costs per message.

Sending over the internet (ie apps like WhatsApp) as the medium only costs data from the allocation given to the plan. So if you have a 1gb plan, you use the data from that, which would be miniscule. But if you send it as an mms you pay a flat fee each time regardless of size.

Eliminate the MMS transmission medium. It only serves the telcos. It's exploiting technically disinclined people who use MMS, and gives the telco income for nothing.

I can only assume this is the reason MMS still exists today. Why would they get rid of passive income If people still use it?

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