Have you downloaded What’s App yet? It is a free cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS – ie it’s absolutely free. Available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia and yes, those phones can all message each other! Because WhatsApp Messenger uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, there is no cost to message and stay in touch with your friends. Even better, you can also send unlimited images, video and audio messages.

And a quick tip about sending messages. You may well already know this but I did not and, when having lunch with my darling friend Penny, discovered that she did not either. So, what is it? Well, it’s a facility on a mobile that I only discovered by accidentally pressing the wrong key.

I know a lot of you can type a message as quick as a flash. Some of you even use two fingers (which I think looks very tekkie indeed). Unfortunately, I am like a snail when it comes to txt msgs.  My way is clumsy one finger typing – and even that is not very efficient!  My fingers just seem too big and I am always tapping the wrong keys and predictive text can do more harm than good! Basically typing a long message leaves me exhausted.

Well, what I discovered is that there is a microphone symbol on your mobile phone when you use Whats App or want to send a text message.

Method 1
Click on new message.
Choose the name of the person you want to message.
Press the microphone symbol (at the bottom, next to the space bar).
Speak your message. Remember to say full stop or exclamation mark at the end of each sentence.
Your verbal message will be automatically typed for you! Check the message doesn’t have any mistakes (it’s good, but does make the odd mistake) and press Send.

Method 2
Alternatively, Hold down the microphone symbol next to the Send button, record your message, and click Send. The recipient will be able to hear your voice as it replays your message.

Either method – absolutely brilliant!