A retirement activity: The many ways of calling or texting

In retirement, you spend a lot of time doing one of three things.

  • 1.    View/listen to videos/audios/TV/media.
  • 2.    Talk/text to friends/relatives.
  • 3.    Get information/knowledge on some topic.

This essay is about texting, and video or audio calls. to people you interact with using various ways. I will write in the future soon an essay on seeking information/knowledge especially through AI. I have already written an article on viewing/listening to media. 

Here is that essay: https://jaykasipersonal.blogspot.com/2025/03/a-retirement-activity-watchinglistening.html

The conventional way for an audio call is to use a cell phone or a landline. My landline uses my cable connection. Many people have dispensed with a landline these days, but I think it is still useful as a fixed, always on and available, with a local number, and a well-known place that people and businesses (especially locals) can call to talk to people in your home, and if necessary, leave behind a message in your voice mailbox. For it to be effective in this role, it is important for you to listen to the messages in your mailbox regularly, call back the person if needed, and remove old messages so the mailbox does not get full. One note of caution is that businesses that collect your phone number often verify the number by sending a text message that you respond to. This will not work with a landline. However, some also give the choice of calling the number to verify which works fine with a landline.

 A cell phone can send/receive audio calls or send/receive text messages. A cell phone either uses a cell phone network or a Wi-Fi connection (if available) to send and receive calls and text. I use an iPhone. You might want to filter cellphones, or landline calls to block unsolicited spam or junk calls using one of the available software defenses.

FaceTime is one of the most popular Apple iOS operating system video or audio calling apps and most people assume it is limited to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, its functionality is also compatible with devices using the Android operating system. Android devices cannot start a FaceTime call, but they can join them if provided a link. To enjoy Apple's FaceTime on Android, you'll need an iOS device to initiate a FaceTime conversation and send a link to Android devices. This method works with single and group FaceTime calls.

Here’s how to use FaceTime with Android: 

1.  Open the FaceTime app on the initiating iPhone and tap Create Link (if you’re the Android user in this scenario, ask a friend to initiate a call). 

2.  Click Add Name, then provide a name for your chat when the FaceTime Link screen appears. 

3.  Share the FaceTime chat link using your preferred method (i.e., text, email, or another app). Hit Join to take part in the chat you just set up. 

Once there's an available link, Android users can join the FaceTime call: 

1.  Click the FaceTime call link.

2.  Enter your preferred name, then select Continue once the link opens in your web browser (you’ll need an updated version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge). 

3.  Join the conversation.  

While iPhone users often make FaceTime video calls like I do, you've got several alternatives for Android. Some of the apps, like Google Meet, Google Hangouts, Facebook Messenger, and Microsoft Teams work with Android and iOS devices. A possibility is using these apps for communicating between phones on both operating systems. Google Duo is considered Android's version of FaceTime. There are also third-party apps available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store that can start video calls between devices. All these apps are beyond the scope of this essay. I have no experience with them.

META’s WhatsApp is a very popular app available on Ios, Mac, Android and Windows PC and includes META AI and is used for texting and video and audio calls. It has over 3 billion monthly active users across 180 countries. I use it a lot especially with my Indian friends and relatives outside the US. WhatsApp requires a phone number to set up an account and start using the messaging app. However, once your account is created, you can continue to use WhatsApp for a while even if your SIM card and phone number are no longer valid. An email address isn’t required for WhatsApp. WhatsApp is linked to your phone number, but it can optionally be linked with your email address as well. The main problem with WhatsApp is that both parties need to agree to use WhatsApp.

If you are a windows user with a windows laptop or desktop, you might want to do all your calling, talking, texting and listening on your PC. Microsoft phone link allows you to Bluetooth pair your iPhone or android phone to your PC. You can see all your contacts on your PC, select or enter the number on your PC, start the call from your PC, speak on your PC mike, and listen on your PC speaker. You can also text. In other words, the PC fully controls the cellphone and is the cockpit, but it really is the cellphone making the actual call connection, or texting using Wi-Fi or cellular network. I have paired my iPhone with my windows desktop with phone link. If not operational at any time after pairing, just turn Bluetooth off on both devices, wait 10 seconds and turn it on again. 

In a cruise ship, internet connections are pricy. Often as a promotion the cruise line throws in a free internet connection for one physical device for the first two passengers. That is a total of two physical devices. I always cruise with my wife and sometimes another guest. How do I accommodate a laptop and a cell phone and a third guest for free? I would suggest giving one connection to a cell phone (in my case my wife). I would suggest giving the second connection to a laptop you leave in your cabin for all to use to browse the web or make calls and browse voice mail. I use a Windows laptop.

Using Google Voice, you can set it up so you can make calls using voice over IP. You can both call and text. Great for a cruise ship!! No cell phone close by is needed like in phone link. Google voice is available on android, iOS as well as the web. Google Voice gives you a phone number for calls, texts, and voicemails. You can use this number to make domestic and international calls from your web browser and mobile devices. Free phone numbers given by Google that I saw at its website when I was setting up were from Washington - MD, Ramsey - NJ or Cumberland - MD. I picked for myself a number from Cumberland. You must have an existing US-based mobile phone number to qualify. This number is associated with your Google voice account and will ring if someone makes a call to your Google Voice phone number (I don't think this part will work in a cruise ship without either cellular or Wi-Fi on your cell phone). It can call any physical phone. No need for the other party to agree to use the same app as WhatsApp does. I use my chrome browser on windows to interact with Google Voice and see my voice mails or make calls. I use the google voice app for the same on my iPhone. Inactivity of the number for sufficient time will result though in Google yanking back the number you were given.  

In addition to using Google Voice for calls, texts, and voicemails, you can also: 

1.  Read voicemail transcripts in your inbox and search them like emails.

2.  Personalize voicemail greetings.

3.  Make international calls at low rates.

4.  Get protection from spam calls and messages.

5.  Block unwanted callers.

6.  Screen calls before you answer.

 Google Voice saves and processes your call, text, and voicemail information.

All calls to US and Canadian numbers are free. International calls are cheap. Here are the call rates for Google Voice to various countries: https://voice.google.com/u/0/rates

Supported operating systems are:

1.  Chrome OS

2.  macOS

3.  Microsoft Windows

4.  Limited functionality may be available on other platforms.

Supported web browsers:

1.  Google Chrome

2.  Mozilla Firefox

3.  Microsoft Edge

4.  Safari

During the pandemic, Zoom skyrocketed to fame and was heavily used in the workplace for video conferencing as workers stayed at home. You can also text in Zoom. It is still very popular for video conferences. My doctor uses it today to talk to me during our periodic scheduled appointments. 


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