Line

Line belongs to the genre of instant chat and call messaging services, integrating the functionality of your sms/messenger tool, with the calling features of Skype, and almost the social networking ability of Facebook.

Line has been a primary source of calling family and friends abroad, almost as much as Viber. However, Line stands out in the exceptional clarity of the voice calls made.

The VoIP features are definitely better, and the international calling rates, should you choose this, are actually quite decently priced. I prefer using this app over other calling apps including Viber and Skype simply due to the call quality.

Line also offers video calling and group conferencing opportunities for those who want to have their conversations on the go. Another fantastic feature is the cross platform usability that lets you sign into multiple devices and continue your conversation – not unlike Apple’s hand over feature.
The chat tool lets you have your chats as private, giving users the ability to delete conversations after a set period of time. Line, like Kik offers a lot of in-app supported apps, some of which are available at a premium cost.

Line also lets you follow your favourite celebrities, who hold verified accounts, so that you can keep track of their daily activities – not so much a useful feature when you can spend more time talking to your loved ones and people who actually matter.

As with other messenger apps, Line features a full store of stickers and other paraphernalia that actually liven your conversation and help you interact on a more silly, child-like manner with your close friends and family.

Users also have the ability to post things to their timelines, a feature that I have found to be redundant since even Symbian phones (Nokia, think old school) these days offer the free Facebook App.

All in all, an effective and cheap way to make great calls over 3G and WiFi to any of your contacts, this app is free to download on all app stores, for devices supporting Android 2.3 and over, and iOS7 and up.