iPhone Users Can Now Set WhatsApp as Their Default Calling and Texting App (theverge.com) 55
An anonymous reader shares a report: You can now choose WhatsApp as your iPhone's default app for calls and text messages, as noted by WABetaInfo. After updating WhatsApp to version 25.8.74, you'll see the app appear as an option in your Messaging and Calling default app settings.
Apple first announced that it would let iPhone users in the European Union change their default phone and messaging apps, but it later said that everyone would be able to do the same in iOS 18.2.
Apple first announced that it would let iPhone users in the European Union change their default phone and messaging apps, but it later said that everyone would be able to do the same in iOS 18.2.
First... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:First... (Score:5, Insightful)
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He could be a disciple of e.e. cummings.
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Perhaps it's to avoid using cellular networks, and instead allow for calling via WiFi?
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Ok...I don't get this either.
Why would I buy a cell phone and not use the "cell"?
I mean...people that buy $1400+ phones don't generally ONLY text and call....they use a lot of other apps and bells and whistles that need connectivity whenever and wherever people go.
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WiFi calling is on by default (I think, I've had it on for years) on iPhones.
I suspect "phone numbers" versus whatever whatsapp uses as ID is the distinction. I definitely do not want further international scammer access to my comms, but some people like to live on the edge.
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If your "cell" phone is 4G or newer everything goes over IP. Your choice is really between using the "phone" and "SMS" apps on your phone that use the telecom's network, or What's App, Signal, whatever, that use their respective networks. It's all data.
Many telecoms have given up the pretense of charging for voice calls but some haven't, and most haven't stopped charging for "long distance," at least internationally. For those, if you want to call someone and don't want to pay the telecom's per minute rate,
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Can't tell if you are a troll, disingenuous, or just uninformed. I'm going to assume you are just uninformed. You might want to sit down for this: not everyone uses their phone the exact same way you do.
Why the fuck would I want to do this?
Why would I buy a cell phone and not use the "cell"?
I mean...people that buy $1400+ phones don't generally ONLY text and call....they use a lot of other apps and bells and whistles that need connectivity whenever and wherever people go.
WhatsApp (and apps like Signal) offer something that the default iPhone apps don't: end-to-end encryption. Apple's iMessage and FaceTime do this within the Apple ecosystem—but once you're talking to anyone on Android or a non-iPhone device, that goes out the window. WhatsApp works cross-platform, glo
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"Did you really think iPhone users only communicate with other iPhone users? "
You're saying they also talk to poor people? :-)
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Why would an iPhone user want to talk to a non-iPhone user?
Re: First... (Score:2)
Because using âcellâ is an emergency / last resort when nothing else is available. It generally both involves cost as well as way more battery drain, so why would you voluntarily use cell connectivity unless you are forced to by circumstances?
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Why would I buy a cell phone and not use the "cell"?
Probably because "the cell" provides absolutely horrendous audio quality thanks to a strong push by carriers to minimise the amount of bandwidth the old "cell" services as well as newer VoLTE uses. Plus if you're connected to a network via WiFi by default you are already not using "the cell". And VoLTE which is the default for LTE-A and 5G services is already just VoIP.
The concept of "the cell" is effectively dead on your phone.
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You probably don't, I don't, but I imagine the zuck wants you to be able to do it, and would sue apple to ensure that you can.
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Doesn't WhatsApp allow users to back-up and export chat history? Those would be useful. In contrast to Apple's congenital obsession with gilded cages.
Personally, I'd be more interested in cloud backups being available in Signal, as rumoured [signalupdateinfo.com]
Signal backups (Score:2)
Personally, I'd be more interested in cloud backups being available in Signal, as rumoured [signalupdateinfo.com]
Signal has useful backup settings for Android [signal.org] but not iOS [signal.org].
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You? Probably don't want this. You live in a country where WhatsApp isn't a default for communication. Other users on the other hand do want this. For a not insignificant portion of the population on this planet all calls / messaging happens through WhatsApp / Telegram / something other than their carrier provided service.
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The idea of half the world's population relying on Meta for communications is a very scary thought. I'm not saying you are incorrect but that it's a very scary thought to me. Fuck Meta.
Re: First... (Score:2)
Yes. It's the network effect, unfortunately. I would prefer to use Signal. But far fewer of my friends and family use it.
The Signal app is also somewhat bare in functionality and usability compared to WhatsApp.
I'd prefer to rid myself of anything to do with Zuck, too.
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I have Signal myself and as you said, hardly anyone uses it. As far as features, it texts, it calls and it does video chat. What else do I need out of a communications device? I think it even supports those stupid ambiguous emojis that could literally mean anything...
Oh well. I realize what is interesting to me as a tech nerd doesn't align with 99.9% of the world of normies. I'm still not using Meta shit.
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I have been in tech since the 1980s, I would still consider myself a nerd.
Signal has lacked sorely vs Meta in the area of backups & synchronization, which is a pretty big deal when using multiple devices.
Until very recently, in fact, just a few weeks ago, I had some older Signal messages from 2022 stuck in my Android device, with no way to synchronize them to my desktop, which I much prefer due to the bigger screen and proper keyboard. You know, due to being a nerd coding since the 1980s. Signal finally
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Ahhh that's very interesting. I know Signal definitely lagged in that area but having never needed to backup my communications, haven't really ran into the use case.
I imagine Signal being a non-profit versus Meta being a commercial driven 800lb gorilla likely makes a difference in adoption rates as well. I know with all the talk recently, people may get the impression that Signal, technology wise, is insecure when that's not really true. At least to the best of our knowledge regarding the protocol.
Hopefully
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Why is that scarier to you than half of the population using something else? Almost everyone in the US used AT&T until they were broken up, for example.
When in the history of mass communication have a bunch of competing players agreed on a common messaging protocol? Never. They never will. It has been winner take all for forever. I think there are better ways, and that is one reason I am a socialist. But CAPITALISM CAPITALISM!!!
Re: First... (Score:2)
Because sms and calls cost money, but data is included in the plan. Duh.
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I haven't had a per minute or per txt charge in well over a decade. Currently, I get unlimited text, talk and data and it's only $25 a month, out the door. It's the one thing that hasn't tried to go up in price on me recently.
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Yeah, exactly.
WhatsApp? Fuck that app!
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Messages is an US-mostly app, rest of the world tends to use WhatsApp.
Wish this were done for Signal... (Score:5, Insightful)
Ages ago when Signal was TextSecure and RedPhone, this was a must have for Android. Wish it could be chosen as a default for iOS. Signal, I trust a lot more than a commercial endeavor, just because of who is the customer versus the product.
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What encryption protocols does Signal use? Who is auditing their source code? I am serious; I would like to know. Don't just say "encrypted end-to-end" and expect me to gleefully embrace this service. I have written low level code to implement encryption protocols. I am not stupid.
The Directors of National Intelligence and the CIA obviously are though.
what does it mean (Score:4, Interesting)
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I dunno...must be some soft of European thing.
I dunno anyone that uses this app, much less has even ever heard of it before.
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And yet you have a ton of uninformed opinions you have shared.
Re: what does it mean (Score:3)
Same for some friends in Africa. Most of the carriers charge big fees for SMS, especially international. That's one reason for the appeal of WhatsApp and Signal, the other being security. Unfortunately, carriers in many developing countries also charge for data by the GB or even MB, so they get their money one way or the other.
Some friends have data quotas that reset each day. Always fun when your video call suddenly cuts off.
Re: what does it mean (Score:2)
It means that when you tap to call someone it launches WhatsApp instead of the normal one or FaceTime. There's nothing to suggest that WhatsApp gets any more access to the hardware. I forget what they call the chip that handles communication with the mobile network but we're talking about normal Internet access, not direct access to the mobile network.
FAO cayenne8, WhatsApp is like Signal or Skype, just an app that lets you do voice, text or video communication. Quite popular over here I gather, but not som
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Yes, What's App "interfaces with the hardware and establishes a connection to the towers" just like it does when you use any app on your phone with internet access.
What's App already offers audio. This just makes it the default so when you tap on a contact or something it uses What's App instead of the built in phone app.
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so if i set this, how does whats app handle the calls ? they interface with the hardware and establish connectin to the towers etc ?
Dude you're overthinking it. a) This means nothing more than when you click on a number it'll open up in WhatsApp by default instead of the Call app or whatever it's called on the iPhone. b) Not sure what you think you mean by interface with hardware or establish connections, the iPhone's own calling app doesn't do this either. That's a core OS function that the calling app calls, nothing more.
Just because you set Chrome as your default web browser doesn't mean it takes over your network card on your PC eit
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People still use this? (Score:2)
Re: People still use this? (Score:2)
There are about 2.5 billion WhatsApp users. And half as many teens worldwide.
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Great news! (Score:2)
How it should really be (Score:2)
In an ideal world, phones would be human centric. If I want to send a message to someone, I send it using the UI I prefer and they receive it in the UI they prefer, and neither of us has to know what the other uses.
Only now? (Score:1)