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> No one in my family but me has iPhones, so I think Facetime is out, So FaceTime lets you make a link that you can give to someone with a web browser and they
by geocar 2y ago
> No one in my family but me has iPhones, so I think Facetime is out,
So FaceTime lets you make a link that you can give to someone with a web browser and they can use it to reach you, and it works pretty well. You might just try it.
> I suppose I'll have to talk my parents into installing Signal desktop, but I was kind of hoping for something that gave you the "user is online" status thing like Skype does.
That's probably the biggest limitation: It's a webpage for calling you (the person with the iPhone), not a page for you to call them. If you want them to open a app/page when they are available, I think Messenger is best in terms of features and usability.
If your parents/grandmother aren't already on WhatsApp I don't think you should link their phone number (which might be linked to their banking etc) with a public chat system because there are a _lot_ of online scams targeting the elderly through WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram and linking to the mobile number associated with other (higher value) services. It is very easy to lock-down Messenger so nobody who isn't already a friend can't target them.
- tombert 2y agoI was looking into it, and it looks like there's a free version of Teams. I think that might be the easiest to get them to onboard to simply I suspect it'll be easier to talk them into something with the "Microsoft" branding. I hadn't really thought about scams. I'll keep that in mind.
- paulddraper 2y agoFaceTime requires the initiator have a Mac. Mac users can call others. Others cannot call Mac.
- tombert 2y agoYeah, and I don't have a Mac computer anymore, and neither do my parents or my grandmother. I coordinated with my parents, we're gonna try the free Teams thing.
- geocar 2y agoExactly wrong in every way. FaceTime requires the Mac or iPhone or iPad user create a link. It's a regular (persistent but revokable) link to a web page with javascript and shit, but anyone can click the link which initiates the call; Others can call Mac, it's Mac which can't call others.
- paulddraper 2y ago> FaceTime requires the Mac or iPhone or iPad user create a link. Yes, FaceTime requires that the Apple user initiate. > It's a regular (persistent but revokable) link You are correct that you can save the link somewhere for future use.
- geocar 2y ago> Yes, FaceTime requires that the Apple user initiate. My customer clicks the link whenever they want, and my phone rings like any other FaceTime call with the label I have given that link in my phone. That's what I think most people want and mean by "initiate", and so I think it misleading at-best to suggest the customer (non-apple user) is unable to initiate the call. > You are correct And this is the first correct thing you have said.
- areyourllySorry 2y agosignal also allows you to turn off discovery by phone number.