<div><strong>Give Me A Ringo </strong><br />There has never been an ideal solution to international calling, unless you're willing to pay heavily. Ringo is a free app for iOS, Android and Windows phone that offers a cheaper way to call abroad, though it's still best to do the math first for your expected duration of calls, frequency of calling and the countries where you'll <img width="100" height="100" align="right" src="/image/image_gallery?uuid=d499c8ff-32ac-4195-b23f-169fd537c650&groupId=222861&t=1423055243327" alt="" />call, as calling rates differ widely. You do have many calling services such as those via Skype, Viber, Fring and even Facebook, but these need a good rock steady Internet connection — not something we have all the time. Ringo doesn't use the Internet for the full call itself. But the app does that for you to request a call (international only) and to buy credits. You get a call back, after which it's clear unless the recipient has something going on at the other end. Ringo uses local carriers with that call-back.<br /><br /><strong>Ask Me Anything</strong><br />Well known people have been doing ask me anything (AMAs) in various places online. A fairly new app, Frankly.me for Android, iOS and on its website frankly.me, aims to create a platform on which anyone can ask a public figure what they like, and get a video answer. Rather ambitious, and I'm not sure how the <img width="100" height="100" align="right" src="/image/image_gallery?uuid=0cf182a1-7047-4a54-b2af-06bf386f488c&groupId=222861&t=1423055275519" alt="" />developers plan to persuade public figures to be on board and record replies, but they're certainly giving it a shot and seem confident they will trailblaze their way past YouTube and Twitter. Currently, they do have Arvind Kejriwal, members of AAP and Congress, Kiran Bedi, Chef Vikas Khanna, author Ravinder Singh, singers Shafqat Amanat Ali and Gurdas Maan, composer Meet Brothers, fashion designer Bina Ramani, Snapdeal Founder Kunal Bahl, Inmobi founder Naveen Tiwari, Matrix India MD- Avnish Bajaj, etc on board.<br /><br /><strong>Whatsapp Everywhere</strong><br />For those who've got into the Whatsapp habit, you needn't miss a moment. Recently, the app has moved to the Web. As long as you're using the Chrome browser you can head to Whatsapp.com and scan the QR <img width="100" height="101" align="right" src="/image/image_gallery?uuid=80c9969a-4078-4cfd-8166-b01eda967e42&groupId=222861&t=1423055294556" alt="" />code that will appear, using your phone. In the up-to-date Whatsapp application, you'll find the Whatsapp Web option from the menu. It prompts you to scan the QR Code, framing it to guide you. Whatsapp is then replicated on your PC screen and you can do everything you do on the phone version on the Web app as well. It's a nice seamless switch and very convenient for those who use the phone and a computer a lot. It's not to be found on Apple machines though.<br /><br />Remember to sign out of the computer though, or someone else will get a good look at your messages.<br /><br />(This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 23-02-2015)</div>
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Mala Bhargava has been writing on technology well before the advent of internet in Indians and before CDs made their way into computers. Mala writes on technology, social media, startups and fitness. A trained psychologist, she claims that her understanding of psychology helps her understand the human side of technology.