Ipad App for International Texting?

[Nola Girl]

DS (17 yrs) wants to be able to text GF at home while we are on the Disney Dream at the end of the month. We are searching for free texting. They have used an app on the ipad for free texting on calls and texts in the USA but we are having trouble finding one for international.
He plans to use his iphone on airplane mode to play games and listen to music. He heard he can get free wifi in Vibe. If this is true he wants to try to use it to text GF. Any ideas?
This trip is really to celebrate his sister's birthday so if we can keep him happy in VIBE I will be THRILLED!

 

[Clara Belle]

DS (17 yrs) wants to be able to text GF at home while we are on the Disney Dream at the end of the month. We are searching for free texting. They have used an app on the ipad for free texting on calls and texts in the USA but we are having trouble finding one for international.
He plans to use his iphone on airplane mode to play games and listen to music. He heard he can get free wifi in Vibe. If this is true he wants to try to use it to text GF. Any ideas?
This trip is really to celebrate his sister's birthday so if we can keep him happy in VIBE I will be THRILLED!

He and GF can each download WhatsApp and text that way as long as he has wifi. I live in Costa Rica and I use that to text my friends in Florida. If they both have iPhones they can text through Viber or Skype. All these apps work with wifi. hope that helps.

 

[Nola Girl]

Thank You!! We will try except GF has an older model phone and I am not finding the app for the ipad.

 

[joelnkelly]

if his girlfriend has a ipod touch, ipad, or iphone they can text each other for free using the regular text app within the device. they would be texting via wifi instead of using the cellular service. They need to make sure they both enable "iMessage" on their devices.

 

[Capt_BJ]

the ship is NOT WiFi .. maybe WiFi ON the ship, but not off the ship

my short answer is TURN THE PHONE OFF

if you want a longer .. more detailed reply I can fall back to my training as a maritime satellite communications manager

or

TURN IT OFF ...talk to your service provider but understand that the text from the ship travels thru the ship's satellite system and that is usually $$$$$$

 

[ssawka]

If he can find a wifi hotspot off the ship he can use Google Voice. I'm not sure how well it works on the iPhone, but I use it as my primary texting on my Android. It lets you do Google to Phone texting for free.

 

[jilljill]

There is no free internet on the ship, unless you are in concierge on the FAntasy/Dream (not sure about concierge on the Magic/Wonder). Internet is very expensive on the ship, 75¢/minute or you can buy packages that make it a tad bit cheaper.
We've used the free wifi at the terminal building in Nassau for connecting via ipods and tablets.

 

[AndyR]

The following only applies to the WiFi internet on board.....

And the timer starts the moment you connect to the Internet (via the browser). Also....for mobile users, make sure to read the fine print about logging off via logout.com or the internet connection may not drop and you'll be billed for mins you didn't think you'd spent.

And.....most skype like applications (like txting via the intenet), these are blocked.

 

[lesroi]

We use Kik on our iPhones to stay in touch with my sister overseas. Not sure if that would work for you.

 

[TLSnell1981]

OP...There is NO free internet onboard. Wifi is expensive and slow, but i highly recommend purchasing a package, if you plan to text, etc. Do not use your wireless plan at any time, unless you are prepared to pay a GINORMOUS phone bill.

There are many horror stories, but.http://blogs.reuters.com/reuters-money/2011/07/22/traveling-abroad-or-taking-a-cruise-avoid-huge-roaming-charges/

 

[Nola Girl]

Goodness he will just have to deal without the GF for a few days. It is just not worth the worry. Now using the iPhone on airplane mode for his music if we make sure cellular data and roaming are set to off is safe--right?

 

[sissy_ib]

Goodness he will just have to deal without the GF for a few days. It is just not worth the worry. Now using the iPhone on airplane mode for his music if we make sure cellular data and roaming are set to off is safe--right?

Putting it in to airplane mode will shut those things off. The only thing that will still be on is Wifi if you use it. And that will incur no charges unless you actually long on to the ship's Wifi and sign up for it.

 

[ssawka]

Putting it in to airplane mode will shut those things off. The only thing that will still be on is Wifi if you use it. And that will incur no charges unless you actually long on to the ship's Wifi and sign up for it.

Phones may vary, but generally airplane mode turns off wifi as well.

 

[wannagoback]

He and GF can each download WhatsApp and text that way as long as he has wifi. I live in Costa Rica and I use that to text my friends in Florida. If they both have iPhones they can text through Viber or Skype. All these apps work with wifi. hope that helps.

Whatsapp works by recognizing the cell phone number of users so it will not work on an iPad or iPod. I was going to suggest Skype but another poster suggested that it may be blocked. iMessage would be an option on two iDevices!

 

[Pappy]

Try viber, is both a VoIP message and text app that works via wifi and 3 and 4 g skit is possible to use via the Internet obtainable via the phone network

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards