In today’s interconnected and globalized world, the ability to contact just about anyone, anywhere, exists with the simple opening of an app, dialing of a number or pressing of a button. Connecting to others around the world is possible without delving into one’s savings or hiking up one’s cell phone bill. 

But only a few are truly worth one’s time. 

Viber

Viberis one of the best cellphone applications for global communication. It provides free texting, group messaging, calling and photo sharing, but requires Internet access. So, for those with data restrictions, it is important to be informed about personal data usage guidelines when outside of a Wi-Fi region. 

While generally compatible with iOS, Android, Blackberry, Bada, Nokia and Windows Phone, it does have some restrictions. For example, Blackberry users are still awaiting use of the app’s calling feature, which Viber is expected to release this April.  

Unlike iMessage, Viber widens channels of communication by providing free texting for six different cellphone systems. Viber is easy to use and extremely popular, having over 780,000 likes on its Facebook page. Once downloaded, the app identifies the user’s contacts that already use Viber.  

Straightforward and user-friendly, this is arguably the best and cheapest resource for texting internationally, whereas a standard text message would deplete the change in one’s pocket with every character. 

textPlus

TextPlus lags behind Viber in terms of Facebook popularity, but it cannot go unmentioned.

It is another resource that aids with international communication. TextPlus is a bit more complex. It requires the user to register and create a new number, offering services to call users abroad. If calling a non-user, the user will be charged.

Users can check out how much it will (or will not) cost at www.textplus.com/rates to call overseas using their service. 

TextPlus differs from Viber in that international communication from multiple devices is possible even if the other user does not have the app. TextPlus is accessible as long as a network or Wi-Fi is accessible. The app not only works with iPhone, Windows Phone, Nokia and Android, but also with KindleFire, iPad and iPod Touch.

Voxer

Voxer is another application in a category of its own. It is not quite texting or calling, but something in-between. Voxer allows text, photo and voice messages to be sent to individual users and groups. 

Its orange-colored theme and off-beat, smiley-phone-face logo is kind of childlike and comforting. It is an addicting app to use, especially after realizing that a good handful of contacts already have it installed. Voxer has inherently coined its own verb, asking its users to “vox,” which is something for the literary world to ponder as they send vocal blurbs and free texts to fellow users. The app is currently compatible with iPhone and Android. 

Google Hangout

And as always, the computer. 

Using a computer is still the best way to contact someone abroad when a telephone will not cut it, budget or otherwise.  

Skype still seems to make the most sense to plenty of people, but Google Hangout seems to be exceeding Skype’s quality and convenience. Google Hangout is more accessible; after all, who does not have a Google account at this point? 

Google Hangout is user-friendly and simple, and can be accessed directly from Google Chat. It also allows conversations to be accessorized. But beware — a moment away from the screen may result in turning back to a bearded conversant adding sound effects to the conversation. Google Hangout keeps things entertaining, with accessories such as gold crowns and musical instruments that can be positioned within the window. The comfort of sitting — virtually — face-to-face on a big screen to speak to an expatriate friend is about as close to the real deal as one can get. 

Katie is a junior in LAS. She can be reached at [email protected].