NORMALZE WHATSAPP CALLS

Some time last year I was on Twitter and somebody was stating how calling someone on Whatsapp is wayward “ushamba” mh!! I just grimaced n shook my head while reading the comments. As a former Telecommunication student, Whatsapp calls is what we refer to as VoIP(Voice over Internet Protocol) and that is where the future of telephony/telecommunication is headed.

For a long time we’ve been used to mobile network phone calls, what we call Public Switched Telephone Networks (PSTN). However, with the emergence/spread of the Internet, VoIP services are slowly replacing normal calls n soon enough everyone will be doing WhatsApp calls.

I guess you’ve been wondering what is IP address (Internet Protocol address). It’s like a portal full of various levels that allow you to access the internet. Ni kama Candy Crush- the way huwa unaunlock various levels of the game. Every modern communication device has an IP address (simu, laptops, tablets) it is like your gadgets registration number kwa internet (broadband channel). Every IP address is unique- that’s why it is easier for institutions to trace one’s internet searches. Think of it as the portal used by the Avengers Kwa Endgame to travel back in time to kill Thanos.

I don’t want to dwell on the technicalities so much as many may not understand but the main reason for this piece was to encourage you to NORMALIZE WhatsApp calls!! With Safaricom charging crazy rates on offline calls, make calls via WhatsApp- it is cheaper even when using mobile data n you will talk for long so long there’s good connectivity. One simple hack: When you call someone on WhatsApp n it indicates “Ringing” it means the person’s internet connectivity is on either hasikii simu ikiring or anakulenga tu; ikionyesha”Calling” then kata tu, huyo mtu hayuko online.

Oh! And I was forgetting, IP address doesn’t enable tracking of one’s phone rather internet activity that is why it is easy to use VPN(Virtual Private Network) to disguise your location. What’s used to track phones is IMEI address, every phone has it (adi kaduda) n it is what is contained in government n phone manufacturer’s database that enables the government to easily trace your phone the moment you make a call lasting more than 40seconds.

Google has recently announced they’ll unroll the latest updates on Android 12–13 n VoIP is one of them. So you’ll be able to make calls from one Android to another without necessarily using WhatsApp.