Communicating across devices

I got an email suggestion for a tech tip which I appreciate. It was a WP article about setting up texting on your PC, or Mac, Android, etc.
​
There are some ways you can use texting on a computer and that can be useful. I don’t have a tablet, for instance, and use my phone and computer for everything. Back in the olden days when I was a programmer, I was able to send out text messages to support person via the mainframe computer, using their phone# and the phone company’s special link.  That’s an option still.
​
Windows has a link for connecting text messaging acroass devices, and there are, of course, third party apps that you can get. The article my friend sent me is HERE. 

Another way to do this is via GOOGLE. As they are attempting to control the world, they have conveniently set up a way to use your computer as a mobile phone. If you go to voice.google.com you can set it all up. I have a google phone number associated with my gmail account. I don’t know what it is or how to use it really, but I set it up to test all this and it does work. I have another friend that doesn’t have a mobile phone. I have a few friends that still have flip phones. It’s not out of the question why someone might want this. My friend, let’s call him Grizz, wanted a security camera for funzies. A trail cam would work, but I wanted him to have a wifi camera that swivels and has night vision, and sends text message alerts. That requires a smart phone with the camera’s smartphone app, or does it?

I setup the Google account on my PC so it could receive text messages. There was a remedial PC app that works with the camera. So, it all works without a smartphone, though the initial setup did require me and my phone.

And another thing. I got my iPhone so I could do facetime. Literally, that’s the only reason I switched from Android. Eventually, Whatsapp came out with video calling, and it’s cross-platform. I can Whatsapp on my PC, my iPhone, and Android devices. I Whatsapp with my friends in Portugal. As a way to send messages and make video calls, I love it.