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Lumia
January 28, 2014

How to use WhatsApp on Nokia Asha



WhatsApp made an appearance on the Nokia Asha 501 as part of the latest update, along with the Nokia Asha 500, Asha 502 and Asha 503.

If you haven’t used WhatsApp so far, it’s easy to get started and enjoy free instant messaging via wireless networks. In addition to instant messaging and group messaging, you can also send photos and videos.

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The first time you use WhatsApp on your Nokia Asha, you’ll need to verify your phone number. Simply enter the number, and the app will send a text message to your phone. Follow the instructions to verify, or enter the WhatsApp number you receive and press ‘OK’. You’ll only need to do this the first time you log into WhatsApp.

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The next step is to enter your name and set a profile picture. Tap ‘Set photo’ to add a snap from your Nokia Asha. You can pick ‘Camera’ to take a new image, and ‘Phone Memory’ or ‘Memory Card’ to choose an existing image. Then type your name in the box below, followed by ‘Next’.

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Adding contacts to your WhatsApp couldn’t be easier. You’ll see three main tabs once you’ve started the app: Favs, Chat and All. Under Favs, tap ‘Options’ at the bottom of the screen, and then press ‘Refresh Favourites’. This searches through your existing phone contact numbers in your Asha 501’s phone book, matching them up with other WhatsApp members.

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To send an IM (Instant Message), tap the name of one of your contacts, and you’ll be able to type out a message. You can also record voice messages by tapping and holding the ‘Record’ button. Once you’ve finished chatting to that person, click ‘Close’ to head back to the main menu again. You can also search through your contacts – press ‘Options’, ‘Search’ and then type their name.

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Once you’ve chatted with someone or left a voice message to one of your personal contacts on WhatsApp, your conversation appears under the Chat tab, so it’s easy to scroll down through previous message threads as you would with regular text messages on your Nokia Asha.

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And when you’re actually looking at conversations in Chat, you’ll also see tabs for previous conversations with other people as well, making it easy to switch between people and messages.

The All tab shows all of your mobile phone contacts, irrespective of whether they’ve joined WhatsApp or not. You can use this part of the app to invite friends and family who haven’t yet signed up; just tap their name, pick the number you want to send the invite to, and then press ‘Yes’ to send an invite.

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The only other thing to do is set your status, so people know what you’re up to and if you’re available to chat or not. Click Options, Status and then add a new status. You can then pick whether you’re available, busy, at school, at work, at the movies and a host of other options.

That’s all there is to it – WhatsApp really is a simple app to get to grips with, and it could save you a fortune when it comes to chatting to friends and family around the world.