OT: Hmmm - WhatsApp

I retired my iPhone last year, and went back to a Doro clamshell. The only downside is that typing messages is a bit clumsy. Then I discovered that WhatsApp has desktop versions, and as there are two or three WhatsApp groups I really ought to be a member of (set up by SWMBO), I naively assumed I'd be able to join these using my Doro's phone number. But it doesn't seem to work like that: you have to already be using WhatsApp on an iPhone or similar, and then make the desktop app be a slave to that phone. I can't do this as it stands as I don't have a phone running, or that can run, WhatsApp. For the moment I've latched my desktop instance to SWMBO's phone. Which is OK but there's a certain amount of noise.

There are, however, various non-smartphones that incorporate WhatsApp, so I could consider getting one of those as a burner, just using it for WhatsApp and thus only joining the groups I want to (i.e., not spying on all of SWMBO's groups). Course I'd have to pay for phone service on that, which would be annoying.

Any comments?

If its truly dumb it can't run whatsapp. It needs to be able to read a QR Code to link the devices so it needs a camera. You may find the version on the "dumb" device doesn't support linking so check.

You don't need two sims. Just pop the SIM from the Doro into the "burner" when you need to link the App. The apps don't need the phone to be switched on to work. I just tested it.

Dave p.s. whilst they are "Dumb" the cheapest seems to be £100. A lot of money just for WhatsApp.

No experience with the dumbphones, although I suspect the clients don't get updates. I wonder at what point WA decides to cut off clients of a certain age? I know on Android/iOS their client stops working regularly if you don't update it.

Could you use an old iPhone / Android and keep it in a drawer? Install the WA app on it. You may be able to register using the number for your dumbphone (it sends a verification SMS, which you'd enter into the WA app), and once you have it set up then you can link the smartphone with WA's website client and send/receive messages via the web app. Then turn off the phone and put it in a drawer. WA will pester you if it hasn't seen the smartphone for a while, in which turn it on and start the WA app, let it sync and then turn it off again.

If it insists on having a SIM in that phone, get a PAYG SIM for £10 and make a chargeable call / send an SMS every 6 months to keep it alive. That gets you a mobile number. Use that as your number for WA. Once you have WA set up you can then put the phone in the drawer and proceed as above. One advantage here is that other people don't see that your Doro number is on WA and send it WA messages and then are surprised that you don't receive them when you're away from your computer.

Theo

Useful info - thanks.

This is true, of course.

The are just Android with cut-down functionality. I suspect like many of the bundled pre-installed apps they get updates.

Why not just pop the existing SIM in the burner as and when its needed..

True, buts its a total faff having a second number. Especially if it expires..

Dave

But a PAYG sim for £10 and the cheapest heap of android s*it that works with it from e.g. Argos, or a second hand shop or ebay, and simply never make a call on it - i.,e,. turn off mobile data and only use it where there is wifi.

It is a handy thing to have for emergencies - 999 calls are free!

Some are, some run other OSes like KaiOS, Mocor, ThreadX... I know KaiOS used to support WA but the client was deprecated, which is why I'd be wary of WA support on dumbphones.

If it does run Android, why not just use a regular Android (or iOS) phone? Perhaps with some apps to make it more dumbphone-like? (various are available)

Presumably the OP wants to carry on using their primary phone. Swapping SIMs is hassle, especially given the little trays and ejector tools you have to use nowadays.

Horses for courses... depends what kind of faff you prefer.

If the WA-sends-verification-SMS-to-dumbphone trick works, then no need for a second number.

Theo

I don't have a smartphone, but I use a free Android emulator for PC called Memu. I put my mobile number into that, installed WhatsApp, and can use it wthout trouble.