Simple app for chat between Fire tablet and an Iphone (or Android)
April 24, 2018 3:48 PM Subscribe
My spouse is traveling internationally and the kid would like to be able to chat with them during the trip.
Basically, I'm looking for the 2018 equivalent of AOL Instant Messenger.
Equipment:
Spouse has an iphone (preferred as it will be online) and an android (possibly connected through wifi while abroad).
An app available on both would be ideal.
Kid has an Amazon Fire tablet, which runs a version of android.
What I would like:
A simple app that doesn't require a phone number (tablet doesn't have one, obviously).
Is available in the Amazon appstore or is easily sideloaded.
Has a history (preferably shared between both phones)
Would I do not want:
Facebook/Other social media (kid doesn't have accounts)
Invasive permissions (location, access to contacts, etc)
Requirement for actual names.
We have successfully used Hangouts in the past, but I'd really like to avoid installing the entire google apps framework on the tablet just for chat.
I've searched around, but nothing really seems to fit the bill.
Equipment:
Spouse has an iphone (preferred as it will be online) and an android (possibly connected through wifi while abroad).
An app available on both would be ideal.
Kid has an Amazon Fire tablet, which runs a version of android.
What I would like:
A simple app that doesn't require a phone number (tablet doesn't have one, obviously).
Is available in the Amazon appstore or is easily sideloaded.
Has a history (preferably shared between both phones)
Would I do not want:
Facebook/Other social media (kid doesn't have accounts)
Invasive permissions (location, access to contacts, etc)
Requirement for actual names.
We have successfully used Hangouts in the past, but I'd really like to avoid installing the entire google apps framework on the tablet just for chat.
I've searched around, but nothing really seems to fit the bill.
I've seen a similar situation in which the parents set up Monster Messenger, and it apparently worked great!
posted by Everydayville at 4:09 PM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Everydayville at 4:09 PM on April 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Would Telegram fit the bill? It doesn't require you to have a real name and I don't think you need a phone number. It also syncs across multiple devices.
posted by Calzephyr at 4:10 PM on April 24, 2018
posted by Calzephyr at 4:10 PM on April 24, 2018
Signal - IOS, Android, and Desktop.
Telegram - also cross platform.
posted by sudogeek at 4:10 PM on April 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Telegram - also cross platform.
posted by sudogeek at 4:10 PM on April 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
You might like WhatsApp bc it lets you do video calls as well as IM. You do have to input *A* working phone number (that you can verify via robo call) but it doesn’t look like it needs to be a number attached to the device itself. I wouldn’t usually recommend a solution that takes additional set up shenanigans but it’s otherwise a very good app for this situation.
posted by bleep at 4:45 PM on April 24, 2018
posted by bleep at 4:45 PM on April 24, 2018
Slack is what we use for this, across many platforms.
posted by anastasiav at 5:43 PM on April 24, 2018
posted by anastasiav at 5:43 PM on April 24, 2018
WhatsApp is good because, among other features, you can record little voice memos and send them like texts. Helpful if you're driving or communicating with someone who's not a big reader.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 8:12 PM on April 24, 2018
posted by pseudostrabismus at 8:12 PM on April 24, 2018
Response by poster: Thanks for the suggestions so far.
Unfortunately, all of them seem to want a raft of permissions (which is especially galling in the supposedly privacy oriented apps).
I'm hoping for something self-contained that doesn't want to read my contacts or phone identity.
posted by madajb at 8:23 PM on April 24, 2018
Unfortunately, all of them seem to want a raft of permissions (which is especially galling in the supposedly privacy oriented apps).
I'm hoping for something self-contained that doesn't want to read my contacts or phone identity.
posted by madajb at 8:23 PM on April 24, 2018
On my phone (Android 8) wire is only using storage permissions. It asks for other permissions if you try to do stuff that need them but works fine if you deny.
posted by Poldo at 9:49 PM on April 24, 2018
posted by Poldo at 9:49 PM on April 24, 2018
Another alternative is to get a Google/Gmail account (you probably have one), sign up for Google Voice, and run GV in a browser. As far as the “entire Google apps framework,” if you’re using Android, it’s mostly there. You can text in GV. Hangouts is not needed.
posted by sudogeek at 4:15 AM on April 25, 2018
posted by sudogeek at 4:15 AM on April 25, 2018
We use Skype for this. I'm not sure if that meets your permissions mandate but you can sign up with anon email and dont have to give it contacts or location access to work.
posted by chasles at 4:31 AM on April 25, 2018
posted by chasles at 4:31 AM on April 25, 2018
We use Kik messenger between myself and our son, who uses an old iphone that uses only wifi of ours. I think it does ask permissions but you don't have to agree to register a phone number because my son does not have one.
posted by Sara_NOT_Sarah at 12:06 PM on April 25, 2018
posted by Sara_NOT_Sarah at 12:06 PM on April 25, 2018
I know you already mentioned Facebook, but if you don't know about the Messenger Kids app, you should look into it.
1) Your child doesn't need a Facebook account to use this app. You log into the app with your own Facebook account and choose which people on your friends' list your child can contact. They can't see Facebook or status updates or photos or anything - they just have access to your approved contacts.
2) The child can "call" you (voice or video) or text you whenever they have wifi access. No cell phone plan needed. No international worries, as long as they can use the internet.
3) It works great on Kindle Fire tablets.
As a recently-divorced dad, I find the app simple to use and fantastic for keeping in touch with my kids. Yesterday my 6-year-old and 11-year-old daughters did a video conference call with me. We could all see and talk to each other and it has funny animations and filters like Snapchat does.
Admittedly, I have only used this across town ~25 miles. But I imagine it would work fine, but slightly delayed, internationally.
posted by tacodave at 3:45 PM on April 25, 2018
1) Your child doesn't need a Facebook account to use this app. You log into the app with your own Facebook account and choose which people on your friends' list your child can contact. They can't see Facebook or status updates or photos or anything - they just have access to your approved contacts.
2) The child can "call" you (voice or video) or text you whenever they have wifi access. No cell phone plan needed. No international worries, as long as they can use the internet.
3) It works great on Kindle Fire tablets.
As a recently-divorced dad, I find the app simple to use and fantastic for keeping in touch with my kids. Yesterday my 6-year-old and 11-year-old daughters did a video conference call with me. We could all see and talk to each other and it has funny animations and filters like Snapchat does.
Admittedly, I have only used this across town ~25 miles. But I imagine it would work fine, but slightly delayed, internationally.
posted by tacodave at 3:45 PM on April 25, 2018
« Older Applying for housing assistance in Michigan. Which... | I am looking for a way to download and convert... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chrchr at 3:56 PM on April 24, 2018