How to Send Free Text Messages with WhatsApp

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Sending Free Texts

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Q&A

WhatsApp is a cheap messaging alternative to SMS text messages. WhatsApp also supports sending photos, videos, and voice messages.^{[1]
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Research source} WhatsApp is available on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Nokia S40, Symbian, and Blackberry phones.^{[2]
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Research source}

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Creating an Account

1
Register an account. Open WhatsApp. On the Your Phone Number screen, enter your phone number, and then touch Done.
- If you're not in the United States, touch United States, and then select the country where you live.
- When you register, WhatsApp will send you an SMS message with a verification code. You'll need to enter this code before you can proceed. If you don't have SMS on your phone, you can also request an automated phone call.
2
Enter your name. On the Profile screen, enter the name you'd like to use with WhatsApp, and then touch Done.
- You can use your real name or a pseudonym.
- You can add a profile photo on this screen.
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3
Find your friends on WhatsApp. WhatsApp will ask you for access to your phone's contacts. If you permit this, WhatsApp will use your contacts' phone numbers to search for WhatsApp users and then add them to favorites screen. It will list all of your contacts on the Contacts screen.
- If you choose not to permit this access, you can always add friends to WhatsApp manually using their phone numbers.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Sending Free Texts

1
Touch Favorites.
- You can also send a message from the Chats screen.
2
Touch one of your friend's names.
- If you don't have any friends using WhatsApp, you'll need to ask a friend to install it on their phone before you can send a message.
3
Type a message, and then touch Send. You'll see the message above the chat text field.

Community Q&A

Question

Does the tick after the message mean it has been sent?

Community Answer

Yes, but remember that the tick means the message is sent to the intended recipient. Ticks mean the message has been received by the recipient but not seen it. Ticks (in blue) mean that the message has been received and also read online by the recipient.
Question

What should I do if I'm not receiving any WhatsApp messages?

Community Answer

Make sure that your phone has an internet connection. You can check this by opening a browser and going to a website.
Question

How do I read a message?

Community Answer

The message should appear in your notifications, just click on it there to see your message.