Video chat and video calling
As part of the digital-switch-over we know many customers are now choosing to go phoneline free and upgrade to a broadband only package, which doesn’t need a landline. If you rely more on your mobile or laptop to stay in touch, we can help you get to grips with video chat calling.
What is video calling?
See the benefits of video calling with our short summary.
What is video calling?
See the benefits of video calling with our short summary.
Video chat is also known as video calling and refers to a technology which lets you communicate in real-time using both audio and video.
Unlike traditional landline calls, video chat lets you see the person or people you’re talking to, making conversations feel more personal, almost like being in the same room.
Video chat has become an important tool for staying connected with loved ones, wherever they are in the world.
How to video call
What you’ll need to make video chat calls.
How to video call
What you’ll need to make video chat calls.
To make a video chat call, you'll need a device with a camera and microphone, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and an Internet connection.
Video chat and video calling relies on the Internet to transmit audio and video data between the devices of people who are on the call. This process happens almost instantaneously, allowing face-to-face calls.
Here’s a few tips on how to make a video chat call:
- select a video calling app or service. There’s lots of video chat apps available. Popular options include WhatsApp, Google Meet, Zoom, and FaceTime
- you’ll need to download and install the app on your device
- for Apple devices such as iPhones or iPads you can download apps from the App Store
- for Android and all other devices, you download apps from the Google Play Store
- most apps are free and to use them you’ll often need to create an account
- add the person you want to call to your contacts list
- open the app, select the contact, and select the video call button
WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet and FaceTime
Follow our guides to make video chat calls using popular apps.
WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet and FaceTime
Follow our guides to make video chat calls using popular apps.
WhatsApp is a widely used messaging app which offers video calling features. Here's how to make a video call on WhatsApp:
- Download WhatsApp on your device.
- Select the WhatsApp chats icon at the bottom of your screen. Then in contacts select the person you want to video call.
- Select the video camera icon at the top right corner of the chat screen to start the WhatsApp video call.
- During the call, you can switch between the front and rear cameras, mute your microphone, or end the call using the on-screen buttons.
- During the meeting, you can mute your microphone, turn off your camera, share your screen, and use other features available in the app.
Google Meet is a video calling app for both personal and professional use. Here's how to use Google Meet for video calls:
- Download the Google Meet app from the App Store or Google Play Store and install it on your device.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Select the New meeting button to create a new meeting. You can choose to start an instant meeting, schedule a meeting, or get a meeting link to share with others.
- To join an existing meeting, select Join with a code button and enter the meeting code provided by the host.
Zoom enables you to connect with individuals or large groups. It can be used for video calls hosting up to 100 people. For that reason, Zoom really came into its own during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 allowing many people to stay face-to-face connected across the globe.
To make a Zoom call:
- You’ll need the Zoom app. You can either download the app before you start your call.
- To download the app before you start go to the place on your device where you normally download apps. For Apple devices, such as iPhone or MacOS devices ( Apple Silicone and Intel chips supported).
- For Android devices you download apps from the Google Play Store.
- The organiser of the Zoom session will send a link to you. This will give you access to the session
- They’ll also send you a Meeting ID which will look something like this: Meeting ID: 123 4567 8910 And a meeting Password which will look something like this: Password: 4PNabR
- A few minutes before the meeting is due to start select the link you’ve been sent.
- The next screen should show an option to Join a Meeting and you need to select it. Have your Meeting ID and meeting Password handy as you may be asked to enter these to join the session.
You’re nearly there!
- The next screen will ask if you want to join with video this will allow you to see others in the session and for them to see you, this can be turned on and off during the session.
- You’ll then be asked if you want to join with audio this will allow you to hear others in the session and for them to hear you, again this can be turned on an off during the session.
That’s it. You should now be in the meeting.
FaceTime is exclusive to Apple devices. It’s a specific app for making video calls on Apple iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple watches. FaceTime will already be installed on your device, so you don’t have to download it to get started.
To make a FaceTime call, you need the person's phone number or registered email address. There’s a few ways to make a FaceTime call:
- In the FaceTime app, select New FaceTime and type the person’s phone number or email address. Select the number or address, then select the Audio button or the FaceTime button.
- If you’ve saved the person’s phone number or email address in your Contacts, you can start typing their name and select the name when it appears. Then select the Audio button or the FaceTime button.
Although FaceTime isn’t available on Android devices, you can invite non-iPhone users to FaceTime calls by sending FaceTime links. They can open the link in their browser, enter their name, and select Continue to join the video call.
What is video calling?
See the benefits of video calling with our short summary.
Video chat is also known as video calling and refers to a technology which lets you communicate in real-time using both audio and video.
Unlike traditional landline calls, video chat lets you see the person or people you’re talking to, making conversations feel more personal, almost like being in the same room.
Video chat has become an important tool for staying connected with loved ones, wherever they are in the world.
How to video call
What you’ll need to make video chat calls.
To make a video chat call, you'll need a device with a camera and microphone, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and an Internet connection.
Video chat and video calling relies on the Internet to transmit audio and video data between the devices of people who are on the call. This process happens almost instantaneously, allowing face-to-face calls.
Here’s a few tips on how to make a video chat call:
- select a video calling app or service. There’s lots of video chat apps available. Popular options include WhatsApp, Google Meet, Zoom, and FaceTime
- you’ll need to download and install the app on your device
- for Apple devices such as iPhones or iPads you can download apps from the App Store
- for Android and all other devices, you download apps from the Google Play Store
- most apps are free and to use them you’ll often need to create an account
- add the person you want to call to your contacts list
- open the app, select the contact, and select the video call button
WhatsApp, Zoom, Google Meet and FaceTime
Follow our guides to make video chat calls using popular apps.
WhatsApp is a widely used messaging app which offers video calling features. Here's how to make a video call on WhatsApp:
- Download WhatsApp on your device.
- Select the WhatsApp chats icon at the bottom of your screen. Then in contacts select the person you want to video call.
- Select the video camera icon at the top right corner of the chat screen to start the WhatsApp video call.
- During the call, you can switch between the front and rear cameras, mute your microphone, or end the call using the on-screen buttons.
- During the meeting, you can mute your microphone, turn off your camera, share your screen, and use other features available in the app.
Google Meet is a video calling app for both personal and professional use. Here's how to use Google Meet for video calls:
- Download the Google Meet app from the App Store or Google Play Store and install it on your device.
- Sign in with your Google account.
- Select the New meeting button to create a new meeting. You can choose to start an instant meeting, schedule a meeting, or get a meeting link to share with others.
- To join an existing meeting, select Join with a code button and enter the meeting code provided by the host.
Zoom enables you to connect with individuals or large groups. It can be used for video calls hosting up to 100 people. For that reason, Zoom really came into its own during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020 allowing many people to stay face-to-face connected across the globe.
To make a Zoom call:
- You’ll need the Zoom app. You can either download the app before you start your call.
- To download the app before you start go to the place on your device where you normally download apps. For Apple devices, such as iPhone or MacOS devices ( Apple Silicone and Intel chips supported).
- For Android devices you download apps from the Google Play Store.
- The organiser of the Zoom session will send a link to you. This will give you access to the session
- They’ll also send you a Meeting ID which will look something like this: Meeting ID: 123 4567 8910 And a meeting Password which will look something like this: Password: 4PNabR
- A few minutes before the meeting is due to start select the link you’ve been sent.
- The next screen should show an option to Join a Meeting and you need to select it. Have your Meeting ID and meeting Password handy as you may be asked to enter these to join the session.
You’re nearly there!
- The next screen will ask if you want to join with video this will allow you to see others in the session and for them to see you, this can be turned on and off during the session.
- You’ll then be asked if you want to join with audio this will allow you to hear others in the session and for them to hear you, again this can be turned on an off during the session.
That’s it. You should now be in the meeting.
FaceTime is exclusive to Apple devices. It’s a specific app for making video calls on Apple iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple watches. FaceTime will already be installed on your device, so you don’t have to download it to get started.
To make a FaceTime call, you need the person's phone number or registered email address. There’s a few ways to make a FaceTime call:
- In the FaceTime app, select New FaceTime and type the person’s phone number or email address. Select the number or address, then select the Audio button or the FaceTime button.
- If you’ve saved the person’s phone number or email address in your Contacts, you can start typing their name and select the name when it appears. Then select the Audio button or the FaceTime button.
Although FaceTime isn’t available on Android devices, you can invite non-iPhone users to FaceTime calls by sending FaceTime links. They can open the link in their browser, enter their name, and select Continue to join the video call.
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