The Apple iPhone 4S allows you to send and receive messages and make phone calls using several different formats. This is achieved both through the standard formats and those provided by the applications downloaded from the AppStore. In this article, I will discuss some of the communication applications available, so that you can take advantage of the benefits they provide.
Facetime
The FaceTime application makes its first appearance on the iPhone 4S, working in conjunction with the phone’s built-in front camera. You can only use the app if the person you are talking to has a FaceTime enabled device (iPhone 4S, iPad, iPad 2, etc.) and a front camera. If so, you can make video calls over a Wi-Fi network, so that you can not only listen to them, but also watch them in real time. This application is especially useful if you are communicating with someone you are supervising, as it can avoid the notoriously high call charges associated with calling a foreign number on a phone. Because it is free, this application is highly recommended.
This is an application that allows you to send and receive SMS and MMS messages for free. Most iPhone 4S rates have a free messaging allowance included, but if you exceed this allowance, an app like WhatsApp can be very helpful. Because the app uses a 3G or Wi-Fi connection, there are no charges for messaging (although data charges may apply when using 3G in certain situations. To be safe, use Wi-Fi whenever possible). This app costs £ 0.69 on the AppStore and I think it is a very good value as you can use it to send an unlimited number of text messages and multimedia messages. You can only send messages with this app if the intended recipient also has WhatsApp installed on their phone. WhatsApp is also available for other operating systems like Android, so it can also be used on phones like the Samsung Galaxy S2, for example.
As you can see, there are more communication options on the iPhone 4S than the standard phone and message functions. If you use apps like the ones described above wisely, you can significantly lower your monthly phone bill. These types of applications are excellent for those who have lower allotments in their rate or who use a Pay As You Go plan. There are many more such applications on the AppStore that allow you to communicate for free with an iPhone 4S; be sure to check out my other articles for details on some of these.