Published on February 16, 2025 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 1 year by Agencies for Kenya Online News
The walkie-talkie is still portable, but is now more accessible to more users, bridging the gap between traditional communication and cutting-edge technology.
Long before smartphones became indispensable, walkie-talkies were essential communication tools used on hiking trails, construction sites, and remote areas far away from civilisation.
Invented in 1937 by the Canadian Don Hings, they are still the communication device of choice by police officers, whether chasing down suspects, controlling traffic, or responding to a disaster.
Walkie-talkies have now entered the wonderful world of smartphones, where the idea of instant communication over a network without making a call has taken hold.
The walkie-talkie is still portable, but is now more accessible to more users, bridging the gap between traditional communication and cutting-edge technology.
The Safaricom Newsroom reviewed popular walkie-talkie apps.
Zello
Zello is perhaps the most popular push-to-talk walkie-talkie app, with over 100 million downloads on the Google Play
Once downloaded, you have to sign up and then choose whether you’d like to use the app to connect with other people who use it, connect with friends socially, stay informed on public safety, or create a private workspace for your team. The work/professional option, however, requires users to pay a monthly fee.
The app has a user-friendly interface and real-time voice streaming, which lets you join in public conversations about popular topics or live open group communications. It can work over Wi-Fi or mobile data.
Voxer
Voxer walkie talkie app
The Voxer walkie-talkie app allows users to share multimedia content, including photos, voice, videos, and location messages. The app works with other popular smartphones and over any 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi network. Users can send voice notes to individuals or groups and also listen to saved messages later.
Once you sign up with your basic information (email, password, username), the app lets you invite friends from your contacts. It’s also easy to use. You simply touch and hold a large button with a walkie-talkie icon, and once you hear a beep, start talking. When you are done, let go.
The app has over 10 million downloads on the Google Play store and a three-star rating on the App Store.
Apple Watch Walkie Talkie
If you and your friend have an Apple Watch, you can both use the Apple Watch Walkie-Talkie to get in touch no matter how far you are from each other. The app allows users to use their Apple Watch to send a voice note to a contact, who will instantly hear the message on their watch. You can add friends on the walkie-talkie by opening the app on the Apple Watch, choosing a contact, and waiting for them to accept the invite.
You can also choose to “Allow or Don’t Allow” notifications to receive messages from your friends.
Starting a conversation is easy. Just tap a friend’s contact, touch and hold the talk button, and begin speaking.
Unfortunately, the app isn’t available in all countries, including Kenya. Additionally, it’s only for contacts, not groups or public conversations and can only be used on the Apple Watch.
Two Way
Two Way is a hassle-free walkie-talkie app that does not require users to set up an account or sign up to use it. Therefore, it does not require or collect personal information.
Once the app has been downloaded and launched, the user will be asked whether they want the app to send them notifications and access their phone’s microphone.
Using the app is as easy as tapping and holding the talk button.
Since all the channels are public, any number of users can join a channel if they know the number and join in a conversation. However, this could disadvantage a group if unwanted people stumble on their channel by accident.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Walkie-Talkie
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Walkie-Talkie is for Android users who own a Galaxy Watch, either the Galaxy Watch 4 or Watch 4 Classic. The app allows two or more watch owners to have push-to-talk conversations by setting up a channel to chat in. Unlike the Apple Watch Walkie Talkie, which doesn’t have an app on the iPhone, users can register their account on their smartphone connected to the watch, though it can run independently of the watch.
Marco Polo
The makers of the Marco Polo app created this video walkie-talkie to help them stay close to their family and friends. The app uses face-to-face messaging but in a walkie-talkie style where you take turns leaving videos for each other. The app has many interesting features, for a walkie-talkie, like video and voice filters that can change the sound of your voice. There are also instant emoji reactions if you are watching live.
Walkie Talkie – All Talk
The Walkie Talkie app has mixed reviews on the Google Play Store, with complaints ranging from too many ads to limited use of emojis and time spent on a frequency. Once you download the app, which has over 10 million downloads, and sign up, you can choose a frequency to listen to everyone or form a separate group for specific conversations. To get the best out of the app, you can pay a subscription fee to enjoy unlimited time per frequency, voice filters, accessories, backgrounds, and reactions. With the subscription, you can also secure your username and get animated emojis, and there are no ads.
Walkie Talkie – Slide2 Talk
If you work in a large office where finding your colleague always seems like an extreme sport or live in a huge home, then this app might work for you. Slide2 Talk is an Android application that works over Wi-Fi networks but can also work offline. It works like a two-way radio with the push-to-talk function, just like these other walkie-talkie apps. What’s even better is that it doesn’t require registration, doesn’t have ads, and is free.
Over and out.
