myabundanceira Useful Updates
Etisalat by e&, the UAE telecoms operator, has launched a new app, GoChat Messenger, which allows for voice and video calls and includes a host of other useful functions. We took the app for a spin to see how it functions and, most importantly, how those video calls work.
About the App
First, text conversations are nearly identical to WhatsApp in that they display one tick to indicate that a message has been sent, two ticks to indicate that it has been delivered, and coloured ticks to indicate that it has been read. The standard disclaimer that messages and calls are “secured with end-to-end encryption” is present at the top of the screen. It was discovered that messages sent abroad took a little longer to arrive. Holding the record icon while speaking is how voice messages are sent.
During the coronavirus epidemic, when working from home became common and friends and family wanted to keep in touch despite travel limitations, video chatting, which uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology, became an essential aspect of daily life for a large portion of the world. Software from Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet work in the UAE and during the pandemic provided a handy communication tool for businesses and schools.
How to Download the App
It’s a simple start, because the app is available in the Apple store and the Google Play store for users of phones that run the Android operating system. Once downloaded, you are asked to enter your phone number and go through the security verification.
The app will then request whether you wish it to sync with your phone contacts, so it can automatically find people who are already using the app.
Quality of calls
When testing it, we found that GoChat’s video calling works perfectly. The picture quality and sound is clear, although that is likely to be dependent on the quality of your internet connection.
Do you have to pay anything?
No. Users in the UAE and abroad can make free audio and video calls to any location in the world using the app, which is free to download and does not require a monthly subscription.